America's Cup - Turning the chase boat virtual

by Sarah Alexander on 28 Nov 2015 2017 America's Cup - The third of our series in which Mark Chisnell looks at some of the ways the new America's Cup is different to the old, from docking out to 'Virtual' chase boats.

It used to be so easy. Instruments were rudimentary, so most of what could be gained came from an experienced and knowledgeable eye. The 1980s era America's Cup boat travelled almost everywhere at about seven or eight miles an hour, so all you needed was a seaworthy chase boat (as they came to be called) capable of maybe 10mph.

Inevitably, it was technology that turned up the complexity dial. The sailing instruments onboard Cup boats got better and radio data telemetry meant that designers, coaches and performance analysts could sit at a computer screen onboard the chase boat, watch the sailing and see the data all at the same time. So the chase boats got bigger, more substantial and more comfortable as a result, but a solid, seaworthy, converted fishing boat would still do the job. Not anymore.

There aren't too many powerboats – never mind fishing boats – that can do 50mph; but that's what's required to keep up with a modern foiling, flying America's Cup Class boat. There are even fewer that can do that speed while people sit comfortably working at computers, and those that can will measure their fuel consumption in gallons per minute rather than miles per gallon.

It was clear from very early in the planning of Land Rover BAR's sailing programme that a different approach would be required. Enter the virtual chase boat. The concept was simple enough; the data would be transmitted directly ashore rather than to an accompanying boat.

There were many obvious advantages, not least of which was the cost and energy that would be saved. It would remove a boat from the water every sailing day, significantly reducing the team's carbon footprint. It was the kind of project that had been envisaged when they partnered with 11th Hour Racing to work towards the sustainability agenda.

Sensor and video technology had now advanced to the point where enough data could be measured to accurately communicate the performance of the boat; removing the need to watch it sailing. The virtual chase boat would supply all the data that curious coaches, designers and performance analysts could ever need, and it would deliver that data to their office desks.