Please select your home edition
Edition
Webasto AUS 2020 LEADERBOARD 1

A Q&A with Jeff Robbins about AIS fences and the 35th America’s Cup

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 1 Jul 2017
Emirates Team New Zealand Oracle Team USA Ernesto Bertarelli’’s VAVA and cruise ships Day 5 2017 35th America’’s Cup Bermuda Daniel Forster http://www.DanielForster.com
If you followed the 35th America’s Cup (AC35), you’re well aware of the mind-numbing speeds that the boats “sailed” at, the dizzying closing speeds involved, and the electronic sensors and on-the-water umpires that issued real-time penalties to transgressing teams, as well as the constant stream of spectator craft on Bermuda’s Great Sound, where the racing unfurled. While the skippers and afterguard aboard the fast-flying catamarans clearly knew their way around the course, the same could not always be said of the spectator fleet, some of which sailed to the island nation to watch the on-the-water action. Yet despite the close quarters and the wide discrepancies regarding local knowledge amongst the spectator fleet, everything stayed safe and well-organized thanks to some clever implementation of technology.

The Automatic Information System, or AIS, was devised as a way to avoid vessel-to-vessel collisions using onboard transponders, GPS, VHF communications, receivers/transceivers, and vessel-specific, 16-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity numbers (MMSI; essentially, a unique phone number for your vessel).

When networked with modern chartplotters that are running up-to-date digital cartography, AIS graphically indicates (and sometimes alarms) dangerous targets (i.e., vessels that are on collision or near-collision courses with your vessel) and allows you to contact the other vessel directly, via their MMSI number and your VHF, to resolve the situation.

While AIS has been a godsend to countless mariners, it can also be used to set up virtual or synthetic Aides to Navigation (for example, electronic signals that mark rocks in places that are inaccessible or inhospitable to physical AtoNs) or to shift whale-protection zones based on real-time activity reports, which are displayed on networked chartplotters just like any other AIS target (but with their own unique onscreen icons).



Given that Vesper Marine’s Guardian AIS system has been successfully used in places like the USA’s Long Island Sound and New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty to safeguard against vessels accidentally damaging submarine cables (via their anchors) or finding the bricks-as well as to help delineate the racetrack boundaries for the 34th America’s Cup (San Francisco Bay, 2013)-it made sense that AC35 organizers would again reach for Vesper Marine’s Guardian system to protect their Bermudian racecourse.

I caught up with Jeff Robbins, CEO of Vesper Marine, which is based in Auckland, New Zealand, via email to learn more about the work the company did to help make Great Sound safe for everyone during AC35, from the cruising boat full of Cup tourists to the AC50s that were rocketing by at 40-plus knots.



Can you give me a 35,000’ overview of what Vesper Marine provided for the 35th America’s Cup (AC35; e.g., your deliverables for the event)?
Prior to AC34 in San Francisco, AC Race Management was looking for a way to enhance safety while making it an inclusive spectator event. As a result, we assisted them in implementing our virtual AIS system to advise spectator boats, as well as race officials, of the frequently changing racecourse boundaries. It was very successful and received great feedback. So this time in Bermuda it was further updated to provide greater range for increased reception and enhanced networking to improve integration with the other race-management systems such as the telemetry network used by the race boats and umpires.

It works by utilizing a Vesper Marine Virtual AIS Station onshore, which transmits movable virtual aids to navigation. Essentially, these are electronic buoys that can be shifted automatically as the course orientation and length is varied based on wind strength and direction. The racecourse was set daily prior to each race, and boats see these electronic buoys on their MFD's and chartplotters so they can easily visualize their own position in relation to the course boundaries and keep clear. It communicates to normal chartplotters on marshal boats and spectator boats alike, and was also used to mark specific locations for official boats to position themselves. A key advantage of this approach is there is no need for any special equipment on the boats.

Two hours before each race, and updated immediately as any course changes are made, the AC computer system takes the mark coordinates from the officials and computes the course boundaries and spectator areas by building a perimeter around the course. This information is then fed via network to the Vesper Marine virtual AIS system, which-continuously throughout the pre-race and race periods-communicates this information directly to the boats.

The system was also used for the J-Class exhibition race and the committee even used the Vesper Marine system to communicate virtual race marks to the J-Class yachts that were racing. Due to the size and draft of the J-Class yachts the course was further away and our new extended transmission range was a benefit.



Is the event using Vesper AIS units to track the boats around the course, or is Vesper providing an AIS fence to keep other vessels off of the racetrack?
Multiple systems were used at the event for different purposes. The event had a dedicated two-way telemetry network providing two-centimeter accurate positioning multiple times per second from the marks and the raceboats to shore. This data was used by the umpires on shore and also facilitated the graphics superimposed on the live helicopter video of the races. There were other independent telemetry networks used for all the camera controls, positioning, and attitude measurement between the boats and helicopter to provide the incredible video coverage of each race.

Due to critical safety considerations, the racecourse is off-limits to spectator boats and the Vesper Marine AIS system was a key safety system providing continuously up-to-date course boundaries visually to the spectators and the race marshal boats so they could keep the course clear.



Is Vesper using custom/bespoke equipment for AC35, or are we talking about off-the-shelf equipment?
The equipment used is not something an end user can purchase or operate such as an AIS Class A or Class B. However, that said we do use the same equipment, although with different software, for a variety of other applications such as marking and monitoring the traffic in the vicinity of hazardous wrecks within busy shipping lanes, creating maritime exclusion zones during hazardous events, identifying safe anchorages and mooring zones for oil and gas installations, protecting platforms, pipelines, sub-sea cables and other offshore structures, etc.

Although the equipment is highly specialized, the beauty of it is that it is designed to be interoperable such that no special equipment is required on board any of the vessels.



How was your work with AC35 different from your work with AC34 in SFO? From a technical perspective, were there additional challenges for AC35? (For example, did the physical size of Great Sound add complication compared to SFO Bay, or was all the heavy metal on SFO a bigger challenge than sleepy Bermuda?)
We used different equipment this time, which increased the reception range and enhanced the networking capabilities to facilitate more advanced integration with the other new America’s Cup Race Management systems. Reception range wasn't a problem in San Francisco and wasn't going to be an issue in Bermuda, either, but we felt that using our latest technology, which also incorporates our ability to support it remotely, was an additional advantage.

How much time did the Vesper Marine team spend in Bermuda getting everything running and operationally smooth? Or, were you guys there throughput the event?
I would have loved to spend time in Bermuda, but since we worked so closely with the AC team last time it wasn't necessary for us to be there this time and prior to the event they were able to complete and test the integration with us just assisting remotely. Because of the enhanced networking capabilities we now have in our devices we could also access the system remotely during the event, should the need arise. But in the end that wasn't necessary as it all worked perfectly, as planned.



Looking back on AC35, what aspects of the project went really well and where would you like to make improvements for AC36?
Now with the cup coming to New Zealand, AC36 will presumably be held right in our front yard! It's not that the distance presented any issues for us in the last two events, but it sure will be fun having it here and will give us additional opportunities to explore ways we can enhance the system further to implement new ideas for how our various technologies can assist in making it a safe and enjoyable event.

Anything else that you’d like to add, for the record?
Just want to extend my congrats to Emirates Team New Zealand on their incredible achievement. Here in New Zealand it's all anyone can talk about and we're all looking forward to welcoming them home and being part of a great celebration.

SCIBS 2023 - FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTERWindcraft 2022 July - Dehler 46SQ - FOOTER

Related Articles

Black Knight: Team Germany's JJ Giltinan challenge
Since the first regatta in 1938, twenty one countries have been represented at the event Since the first regatta in 1938, twenty one countries have been represented by some of their best sailing talent as they attempted to win the world's greatest 18ft skiff championship, the JJ Giltinan World's 18 footer Championship.
Posted today at 4:42 am
New Zhik SuperThin Bootie
Next generation footwear The SuperThin Bootie pushes the boundaries for footwear with an all new knitted upper that is 4X more durable to abrasion than neoprene, combined with a super lightweight and flexible rubber sole for enhanced manoeuvrability.
Posted today at 3:00 am
America's Cup: The State of the Cup
A look at the state of the 2024 America's Cup, 12 months after the venue announcement. A look at the state of the 2024 America's Cup, 12 months after the venue announcement. Work has been ongoing transforming the Port Vell and Port Olímpic areas ready to host the competing teams who are setting up bases and will be onsite from Summer 2023.
Posted on 28 Mar
The Ocean Race launch Metaverse experience
An experience to engage fans and businesses in a new way The Ocean Race launched a metaverse experience pilot today with Virtual Regatta and Accenture to engage fans and businesses in a new way with the world-renowned, global yacht race.
Posted on 28 Mar
RS Aero Victoria State Titles
32 helms competing as part of George Mac Regatta RS Aero Victorian State Titles was held in conjunction with the George Mac Regatta at Royal Brighton Yacht Club. Racing was held in breeze from 6kts to 22kts and from flat seas to typical Port Phillip big waves.
Posted on 28 Mar
2023 Surazo Infernal - Day 1
Kicking off with the Open Am rounds in in front of a very enthusiastic crowd Welcome to the Surazo Infernal! This event will introduce the full scale seeding round for the 4 STAR Unified PWA IWT Wave Tour events.
Posted on 28 Mar
Trofeo Princesa Sofía carbon footprint reduction
The first milestone of the collaboration will be zero emissions The Olympic class regatta signs an agreement with the Mallorcan company Trueword to implement an innovative environmental strategy.
Posted on 28 Mar
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 30
Team Malizia continues to head the leaderboard Team Malizia continues to head the leaderboard in leg 3 of The Ocean Race after leading the fleet around Cape Horn.
Posted on 28 Mar
The Ocean Race sailors round The Horn
Rosalin Kuiper can now joke about her head injury aboard Team Malizia For armchair pundits, few offshore adventures are more fun to watch from afar than the Southern Ocean legs of storied events such as the singlehanded Vendee Globe or the fully crewed The Ocean Race.
Posted on 28 Mar
Andoo Comanche and Rex to chase race records
In the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race When the gun fires sending the fleet on its way in the 2023 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race at 1pm, on Friday 31 March, Andoo Comanche's crew will be chasing the race record of 17 hours 10 minutes 31 seconds.
Posted on 28 Mar