Scottish Series Robotic Racing Marks

[BlowingOldBoots]

What a great idea, they stay in position using motors, cell network, lithium battery power and can be repositioned remotely.

Sounds like it was a great event.

https://afloat.ie/sail/events/scottish- ... IBnAf_2tSo

[Gardenshed]

brilliant technology, but not cheap
the smaller ones are £6,000+ each and the larger ones, €9,000+ each

....but good savings from the reduction in ribs and volunteers needed (Rib fuel, cost of moving ribs to the event etc)

If there was a way that the CYCA or similar org could fund/host these for their member clubs, then it could make sense (RHYC and OSC are CYCA members so these could also be used at WHYW). It also opens up different locations for race courses, i.e. deeper areas where today its too difficult to lay a temporary mark.

[mm5aho]

I was a few days on a RIB during SS24, Just troubleshooting where required. Most of that was in unclogging the props on these things from weed. That seemed to be the biggest criticism to make.
There was the occasional comms blip, one went awol one day, and another failed to move, but did keep station.
They were all charged overnight, but hardly needed that. Some were at 90% by end of days play. One is said to have kept station somewhere for 5 days before running out of juice.
Some of the airbags needed leaks fixing, but they always lasted the day. The bigger ones can do 6knots without wind, and on one occasion at least took themselves home all the way on command to return home. A shepherd a good idea though, as they have no idea about COLREGS.

The cost of traditional marks is sometimes overlooked in comparison. The inflatable dumpy are about £900, even the bungs cost £10 (I made some on my lathe as spares). We often deploy 150-200m rope on a mark, rarely less than 30m in L Fyne. A short chain and and anchor. We always lose at least one rope and anchor set, this year a few more. The idea of reducing workload by pre setting anchors on mooring buoys worked well, but finding the buoy in a chop without GPS is a challenge.

all in all a success I agree.