Tuesday, 17th November 2009 will be a bittersweet day for the communities which have grown around the Sagittaria estate and the SS Galaxy. It will be on that day that the SS Galaxy will undock from the harbour which has kept her safe throughout her construction, launch, and first two-and-a-half years of service. Designed and built by Bill Stirling, who is also the architect behind the Sagittaria estate, she will undock from Sagittaria harbour for her new home as the tenth estate of the United Sailing Sims (USS).
The move will mark the culmination of eight-and-a-half months of negotiations and planning. I would like to credit this 10 February 2009 post on the SLUniverse forums by Khamon Fate (proprietor of Fate Gardens Flowers and Trees) as having sowed the seed for the idea.
Linden Lab has partnered with the United Sailing Sims on a pioneering community project called the Blake Sea. Named in honour of the yachtsman Sir Peter Blake, the Blake Sea directly adjoins the Linden mainland of Nautilus City, and comprises 46 regions of navigable water. Together, the Blake Sea and the United Sailing Sims will offer guests of, and visitors to, the SS Galaxy with 188 (at time of publishing of this post) aquatic-themed regions in which to fly, sail, and generally explore.
This will be an experience unparalleled across the entire Second Life grid, and befits the standard of service and privilege that guests onboard the largest full-scale, full-service cruise liner in Second Life have come to expect.
:-)
The Captain and crew of the SS Galaxy would like to thank:
- Bill Stirling, for his vision and courage to see the original build of the Galaxy through, and for graciously granting her safe harbour at the Sagittaria estate
- the owners of the United Sailing Sims, for warmly welcoming us as the newest member of the USS family
- Linden Lab, for facilitating the smooth move of the ship to her new location
- all members of crew and all guests, past and present, for building the Galaxy community
Additional reading:
- Jack Linden's 20 December 2008 blog entry (Hoist the Mainsail and head for the high sea) Second Life Blogs
- Michael Linden's 16 April 2009 blog entry (The Blake Sea) Second Life Blogs
- MarkTwain White's 14 November 2009 blog entry (SS Galaxy Joins the USS) SLSailing.com
- Blake Sea Code of Conduct
