Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine Pipe Glands

Robots set to work at Falmouth Sailing Week 2024

by Jane Wright 8 Jun 2024 03:09 PDT 10-17 August 2024
MarkSetBot shines On-Water for America's Cup © MarkSetBot

Falmouth Sailing Week will be only the second regatta in the country to have GPS controlled robots for race marks on the water as this August.

The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association (PoFSA) have now partnered with five key sponsors and the six yacht and sailing clubs in Falmouth, to bring the racing for the Bay Fleet during Falmouth Sailing Week into the 21st century. This initiative driven in response to feedback from competitors for better options for course laying and a social commitment to making the best fit environmental choices.

When placed in position, the MarkSetBots remain in place using a battery-driven electric motor, in response to commands from a computer operator within the committee boat team.

The MarkSetBots which will be supplied by Fourth Cape Ltd in Cowes are not anchored and will not impact on the seabed. This reduces the workload on volunteers in the Bay support boats from anchoring traditional marks and subsequently adjusting their position, to towing them out to the race area before racing and towing them back into harbour after racing.

Course changes in response to wind shifts and changes in wind speed are carried out by the operator keying in the new coordinates on his computer; the robots then move automatically, at approximately 3.5 knots, in immediate response to those commands. This is much quicker and less physically demanding than the traditional method of pulling up anchors in 20 to 25 metres of water and relaying the marks. This procedure is never easy and depending on the skill of the mark layers, marks when moved may need to be re-set more than once. This increases the waiting times between races for the competitors.

In addition, traditional marks can sometimes break out their anchors and move, as the tide rises or the wind speed increases, and this can cause abandonment of races. Unnecessarily long waiting times between races or abandonments are never popular with competitors. The organising race committee has decided that this year, racing in the Bay will take place on a trapezium course. This will require seven of these robots.

The batteries in use on the MarkSetBots last at least eight hours in normal use, with top-ups during the day by integral solar panels, but will need to be fully charged overnight using a normal shore power charging point, such as those found in any marina. The environmental benefits are obvious and include:

No anchoring, so no damage to the sea bed. No carbon fuels used by the bot engines and solar panels are used to top up the batteries during use.

PoFSA hopes to roll out this method of course laying to cover both racing fleets in future years. It takes partnerships to make it all happen. For Falmouth Sailing Week 24 that comes with the support of Cornish Lithium PLC in Penryn. They are at the forefront of a sustainable and environmentally responsible extraction industry in the UK, for those minerals that can contribute to the global goal of decarbonisation through clean growth and a transition to a green economy. Their partnerships with industry, academia and events support innovative thinking that foster new approaches to dynamic challenges.

Likewise, Cornwall Council through the Fal and Helford S106 fund which helps to protect the habitats and features from recreational pressures have also chosen to support the PoFSA initiative.

Pendennis Shipyard Ltd and Mylor Chandlery and Rigging have also shown their support of local sailing events for many years. They have both stepped up once again, to champion the racing in Falmouth and continue to create strong partnerships between local business and leisure by sponsoring a MarkSetBot each.

Further afield, Marlow Ropes from East Sussex are committed to supporting the marine scene and are first time sponsors of Falmouth Sailing Week 24.

The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club are very kindly providing the berthing and charging facilities for the seven MarkSetBots throughout Falmouth Sailing Week.

Falmouth Sailing Week 24 runs from August 11th through to August 17th - see falmouthweek.co.uk/sailing-week

Related Articles

18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water. Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries. Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run. Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control. Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history. Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State. Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around. Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing. Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water. Posted on 10 Jul
PredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMBarton Marine Pipe Glands