Electronics and the NMEA Expo—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 30 Sep 2015 Racing sailboats may be about reading the weather, the wind, and the waves, but the stark truth is that it’s also about harnessing the best technologies that are allowed under the Racing Rules of Sailing. Factor in fully multi-function displays (MFDs), networked instrumentation, sophisticated weather-routing programs and access to cellular, WiFi or satellite communications, and modern racing yachts present themselves as sophisticated floating information platforms.

Much like a racing yacht’s sail inventory, the boat’s marine electronics must be regularly maintained, calibrated and updated with the latest software (and, occasionally, new hardware), if you want top results. And when it comes to learning about the coolest electronics afloat, there’s no better place to turn than the annual trade-only National Marine Electronics Association’s (NMEA) Electronics Expo, which is unfurling this week in the fine city of Baltimore, Maryland (September 29 to October 1) and offers a first glimpse of what the marine-electronics industry will be rolling out in 2016. Here’s a look at a few market trends coming out of this year’s NMEA Expo (and other fall shows) that technologically savvy keelboat sailors should pay close attention to.

The past few years have seen MFD manufacturers rapidly expand the role of these now-critical devices, which commonly feature touchscreen capabilities, improved Graphical User Interfaces, internal WiFi, and embedded high-speed GPS units. Also, MFD manufacturers have successfully leveraged cutting-edge technologies from the tablet market to incorporate lightning-fast processors into their MFDs that can make many not-so-old PCs swoon with envy.

Manufacturers recently started incorporating new sailing-specific features into their MFDs operating systems such as starting-line assistants, routing software, sophisticated compass and wind-rose graphics, as well as laylines and tacking angles.

Additionally, some of these operating systems can access the boat’s polars and help the crew know if they’re above or below their target numbers. (For all-out Grand Prix raceboats, networked black-box systems, dedicated numerical displays, networked PCs [and tablets] running weather-routing software typically replace MFD-based systems.)

One of the reasons that MFDs (and black-box systems) have evolved into the yacht’s electronic user-interface is due to the rise of networked-data backbones-for example the NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000 (AKA “N2K”), or other proprietary backbones-which serve as the yacht’s central nervous system.

Properly networked and configured, these backbones allow a vessel’s MFD(s) to access information from any sensor or instrument and-system depending-share this information over a Wireless Local Area Network. In turn, this allows users to access their vessel data, typically via manufacturer-specific apps on a tablet, smartphone or PC.

While this scheme works well, a group of open-source developers have been creating Signal K, a networking scheme that allows users to access all networked data via their choice of software (among other features). This, of course, opens the door wide for Corinthian-level racers to enjoy bespoke, vessel-specific racing software and apps.

This emerging technology should prove to be one of the more intriguing presentations at this year’s NMEA Expo, hopefully revealing more as to when the racing world can expect this open-source alternative to hit starting lines.

Given the necessity of accessing accurate weather information, it’s no surprise that onboard communications have become an increasingly important market segment, both for buoy racers and offshore sailors. Recent years have seen an increase in long-range WiFi and cellular-communications market offerings, including systems that can delivery Internet access several miles offshore, provided they have access to a robust WiFi or cellular signal. And while this equipment is typically better suited to downloading information prior to racing, satellite-communications systems are available that can provide service anywhere, as evidenced by the last few editions of the Volvo Ocean Race.

So, if you’re in the market for new electronics, be sure to check out this year’s offerings, both online and at the various fall and winter boat shows, or-if you happen to be in the marine industry-this week’s trade-only NMEA Expo. Odds are excellent that you’ll be impressed with the level of sophistication and racecourse utility that’s available in today’s off-the-shelf technology.

Also inside this issue, be sure to check out the latest news from the Farr 40 Worlds, the Mini Transat and the Melges 20 Worlds, as well as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

May the four winds blow you safely home,