The RYA, in collaboration with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, is extending its use of robotic race mark technology at national and high-level events throughout the 2024 season.
With backing from UK Sport’s National Events Programme, the race marks positioning technology from MarkSetBot will help to run accurate and precise race courses with a faster turnaround time between races, whilst also protecting the seabed by not using anchors.
A reduced reliance on busy volunteers as well as mark laying RIBs, and the fuel they burn, is an additional benefit.
Used worldwide over the last few years, with impressive accuracy, the MarkSetBot system has been chosen by international race organisers such as SailGP, TP52 Super Series and the RC44 class and will also be used for boundary-setting at the 37th America’s Cup later this year.
The Bots hold position to an assigned GPS coordinate and use the onboard hardware and sophisticated anchoring algorithm to hold a stable position in the most extreme conditions. They have been tested in 30kts of wind and three-metre seas. The Bots can also integrate key technologies, like wind instrumentation, AIS transponders, and horn systems to help automate additional aspects of the racecourse.
Following a successful second year of supporting the RYA Youth National Championships, the MarkSetBot use has been extended across RYA National Match Race events, RYA Olympic Classes Events, as well as at RS Feva, Formula Kite, Topper, UKLA and WASZP National Championships this season.
Read the full article over on the RYA Website here: https://www.rya.org.uk/news/gps-race-tech-24
