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Displaying items by tag: MarkSetBot

The company behind the sailing’s first robotic marker is launching a new tool that promises to be a “game changer” for race management.

RaceOS by MarkSetBot aims to simplify the process of running a sailing race by bringing “elite-level race technology” to club racecourses.

The system pairs MarkSetBots with tracking sensors, a horn system and a wind instrument to self-set and run all aspects of the race, from signals and OCS detection to course changes to scoring.

“This is incredible technology,” said Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP. “It will go a long way towards making our sport environmentally friendly by using less race officials and race committee vessels. It should also eliminate unnecessary general recalls, disqualifications, and speed up race operations.

“It will result in fairer, more accurate racing for all competitors at less expense and will be a total game changer for sailing.”

Yachts and Yachting has more on the story HERE.

Published in Racing

US Sailing has partnered with the company behind the sport’s first robotic marker to help get America’s sailing community back on the water.

Afloat.ie previously reported on the MarkSetBot, an invention by US sailor Kevin Morin that essentially combines a standard race marker with a trolling motor and GPS receiver, allowing it to be set remotely by computer or mobile device.

“The MarkSetBot inherently allows for social distancing,” says the company behind the pioneering product, which also boosts its environmental credentials — eliminating the need for boats to tow out race markers.

MarkSetBot is now offering US Sailing member clubs a 33% discount on a three-month lease for three marker bots. For more about the MarkSetBot robotic marker, see HERE.

Published in Racing
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#MarkSetBot - A robot buoy could change forever the way yacht clubs mark their racing courses.

That’s the promise of MarkSetBot, an invention by US sailor Kevin Morin which adapts two already existing technologies for a whole new purpose, as Sailing World reports.

MarkSetBot is essentially a standard race marker fitted with a GPS receiver and a trolling motor of the kind found on fishing boats.

By inputting co-ordinates via the cellular network — as simple as picking a point on a map — the MarkSetBot uses its motor to move into, and more importantly stay in the chosen position.

Testing in winds up to 17 knots and one-metre waves has shown the device capable of holding its position within a five-foot radius without the need for an anchor, according to Morin.

That’s impressive enough, but the bigger news for yacht clubs is that changing a course layout — to compensate for shifting winds, for example — could be as simple a matter as tapping a few points on a screen and watching the markers move themselves into place.

Sailing World has much more on the story HERE.

Published in Racing
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The 2024 Vendée Globe Race

A record-sized fleet of 44 skippers are aiming for the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe: the 24,296 nautical miles solo non-stop round-the-world race from Les Sables d’Olonne in France, on Sunday, November 10 2024 and will be expected back in mid-January 2025.

Vendée Globe Race FAQs

Six women (Alexia Barrier, Clarisse Cremer, Isabelle Joschke, Sam Davies, Miranda Merron, Pip Hare).

Nine nations (France, Germany, Japan, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, and Great Britain)

After much speculation following Galway man Enda O’Coineen’s 2016 race debut for Ireland, there were as many as four campaigns proposed at one point, but unfortunately, none have reached the start line.

The Vendée Globe is a sailing race round the world, solo, non-stop and without assistance. It takes place every four years and it is regarded as the Everest of sailing. The event followed in the wake of the Golden Globe which had initiated the first circumnavigation of this type via the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) in 1968.

The record to beat is Armel Le Cléac’h 74 days 3h 35 minutes 46s set in 2017. Some pundits are saying the boats could beat a sub-60 day time.

The number of theoretical miles to cover is 24,296 miles (45,000 km).

The IMOCA 60 ("Open 60"), is a development class monohull sailing yacht run by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA). The class pinnacle events are single or two-person ocean races, such as the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe.

Zero past winners are competing but two podiums 2017: Alex Thomson second, Jérémie Beyou third. It is also the fifth participation for Jean Le Cam and Alex Thomson, fourth for Arnaud Boissières and Jérémie Beyou.

The youngest on this ninth edition of the race is Alan Roura, 27 years old.

The oldest on this ninth edition is Jean Le Cam, 61 years old.

Over half the fleet are debutantes, totalling 18 first-timers.

The start procedure begins 8 minutes before the gun fires with the warning signal. At 4 minutes before, for the preparatory signal, the skipper must be alone on board, follow the countdown and take the line at the start signal at 13:02hrs local time. If an IMOCA crosses the line too early, it incurs a penalty of 5 hours which they will have to complete on the course before the latitude 38 ° 40 N (just north of Lisbon latitude). For safety reasons, there is no opportunity to turn back and recross the line. A competitor who has not crossed the starting line 60 minutes after the signal will be considered as not starting. They will have to wait until a time indicated by the race committee to start again. No departure will be given after November 18, 2020, at 1:02 p.m when the line closes.

The first boat could be home in sixty days. Expect the leaders from January 7th 2021 but to beat the 2017 race record they need to finish by January 19 2021.

Today, building a brand new IMOCA generally costs between 4.2 and €4.7million, without the sails but second-hand boats that are in short supply can be got for around €1m.

©Afloat 2020

Vendee Globe 2024 Key Figures

  • 10th edition
  • Six women (vs six in 2020)
  • 16 international skippers (vs 12 in 2020)
  • 11 nationalities represented: France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Japan, China, USA, New Zealand (vs 9 in 2020)
  • 18 rookies (vs 20 in 2020)
  • 30 causes supported
  • 14 new IMOCAs (vs 9 in 2020)
  • Two 'handisport' skippers

At A Glance - Vendee Globe 2024

The 10th edition will leave from Les Sables d’Olonne on November 10, 2024

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