MarineVerse, developers of the virtual reality sailing simulator MarineVerse Sailing Club, has announced a collaboration with Dan Deckert and Kika Mevs of the YouTube channel Sailing Uma. A digital replica of their boat, S/V Uma, is now available for users to sail within the game.
The virtual boat was developed with direct input from Dan and Kika and is featured in the new “MarineVerse Globe” beta, which simulates long-distance passages. The update marks the first dedicated cruising yacht in MarineVerse’s fleet, which previously focused on small-boat racing and sailing tutorials.
“Uma isn’t just a hull and sails—she’s a symbol of learning by doing,” said Mevs. “Seeing her come alive in VR is surreal. The layout feels exactly like home, right down to the cockpit proportions.”
According to MarineVerse, the S/V Uma experience allows players to learn sail trim and boat handling aboard a mid-size cruising yacht, with simulated weather and sea conditions. The developers describe the feature as “a low-pressure, zero-risk environment for anyone curious about sailing or the liveaboard lifestyle.”
MarineVerse founder Greg Dziemidowicz said the project aligns with the company’s goal of making sailing accessible. “Our mission has always been to democratise sailing,” he said. “Uma is the perfect ambassador. She proves you don’t need a brand-new yacht to chase big dreams—now you don’t even need water.”
In addition to the boat’s inclusion in the game, Deckert and Mevs will serve as “Cruising Advisors” to MarineVerse, contributing ideas for future educational content aimed at cruising sailors.
“We started using VR tools like Gravity Sketch to visualize design ideas for our current refit. That sparked something,” said Mevs. “We realized that if we could use VR to design Uma, maybe others could use it to experience her. The idea of letting someone step aboard Uma, whether they sail or not, felt like a natural next step in sharing this journey.”
Deckert added, “MarineVerse stood out because they are not just building a game. They are creating a platform to introduce real sailing skills in an accessible way. Their collaboration with NauticEd—combined with a strong focus on education, accuracy, and community—made MarineVerse the perfect fit for bringing Uma into the virtual world.”
MarineVerse Sailing Club is available for Meta Quest and Steam VR platforms. The developers are offering a promotional discount code (UMA1-81FE89) for the Meta Quest version, valid through June 5. For more information or to download the game, visit marineverse.com.
Sailing Uma has documented over 28,000 nautical miles of travel aboard their 1972 Pearson 36, sharing the experience with more than 400,000 YouTube subscribers.
