Irish Sailors Revolutionise Scottish Series Regatta Race Management with Robotic Marks

1st June 2024

Afloat.ie Team

Dun Laoghaire's Kenny Rumball brought 14 robotic marks to Scotland to transform race management at the Scottish Series Regatta's three-course areas: six German-made Smartmarks and eight Swiss-made Gipsy buoy marks on the dock at Tarbert

Dun Laoghaire Harbour sailors were at the forefront of the rejuvenation of Scotland's biggest Regatta earlier this week, when they brought groundbreaking technology to the Scottish Series hosted by the Clyde Cruising Club.

This year's regatta feature was the use of robotic marks on the three-race courses, which Kenny Rumball of the Irish National Sailing School supplied and managed.

These were controlled by the Regatta's Principal Race Officer and Race Officer for the IRC classes, Con Murphy, of the National Yacht Club.

The 8M Classic K22 Fulmar crossing the Smartmark finish line pin end at the end of the long distance ‘Inch’ race at the Scottish Series Regatta on Sunday 26th May 24 Photo: Con Murphy

The new technology trialled in Dublin Bay a month ago at the Irish Sailing League allowed accurate start lines and courses to be set in the centre of the 200m deep Loch Fyne. It proved to be a game changer for this regatta, giving perfect race courses on waters where marks could not be easily laid or moved.

The regatta clashing with the Wave Regatta in Dublin reduced the Irish entry, but above shows two Irish boats crossing the finish line together in the final race (Race 9) - Brian Hall’s J109 Something Else from the National YC and Shaun Douglas's First 40.7 Game Changer from the Royal Ulster YC with a robotic 'Smartmark' pin end of the finish line Photo: Con Murphy

Rumball brought 14 robotic marks to Scotland for use on the regatta's three-course areas: six German-made ‘Smartmarks' and eight Swiss-made ‘Gipsybuoy’ marks.

The Smartmarks were generally towed or self-positioned to the race area, while the Gipsybuoys were carried out on a rib. Their sophisticated operating systems include a GPS navigation system, rechargeable lithium battery-powered twin electric engines, and a link to an operator's app via a 4G SIM card.

Scottish Series PRO Con Murphy, Cathy MacAleavey (timekeeper) and Paul Deponio (Assistant RO) on the foredeck of a Committee Boat Photo: Marc Turner

In addition to allowing the race officers to easily set and adjust the course and start/finish lines, robotic marks reduced the number of mark-laying ribs and crews to a single one on each course area.

Rumball joined Murphy on the IRC committee boat each day, where he managed the marks remotely.

Scottish Series Regatta Chairman Roddy Angus made the inspired decision to invest in the robotic marks (as well as superbly organising the regatta) Photo: Marc Turner

"The feedback from competitors was very positive, and the good racing on the beautiful Loch contributed to a superb apres sail atmosphere on the Tarbert Harbour Marina each day", Murphy told Afloat.

Robotic Marks - the future for yacht racing managers?

Rumball attended the Scottish Series with two types of robotic marks, and he describes these below

Smartmarks

SmartMarks were developed in Germany and have been used in many events including the E1 powerboat racing series, the TP52 Super Series others.

Six Smartmarks being towed to the Scottish Series IRC Classes race area on Loch Fyne Photo: Con Murphy

Of the robotic marks, they are amongst the largest and represent a rigid inflatable boat with a rigid hull encompassing the motors, batteries and electronics. An inflatable rubber ring and inflatable cone comprise the top of the buoy, making it easily identifiable.

Like all marks, they are controlled by an app and rely on mobile data networks.

Effetto Venturi/ Gipsy Buoy

The Effetto Venturi Gipsy Buoy has been selected as the robotic mark of choice for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The marks have an inflatable structure to which a small control unit is affixed. They are easily portable and weigh just over 20 kg, meaning they can be easily transported on top of a RIB.

A Scottish Series Regatta Rib with three 'Gypsybuoys' robotic marks leaving Tarbert Harbour for deployment on a race course Photo: Con Murphy

These marks are controlled via an app that can be used on any device. However, they also have a manual override. You can press the ‘anchor’ button on the unit itself, and it will stay in that position until that command is changed in the app or by ‘releasing’ the mark using another button. This means that these marks do not always rely on a mobile data network.

Kenny has robotic marks available for rent for events in Ireland or the UK. Please feel free to contact [email protected] with any enquiries.

Published in Scottish Series, Marine Tech

Published in Scottish Series

Tagged under

scottish series

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Scottish Series Background

Although the format of the Scottish Series varies little from year to year, it is interesting to see some of the changes which the event has seen over the years:

CYCA handicap class added to IOR (1976)

IOR level rating classes to reflect the popular sizes and World Championships being held in the UK

Separate one design class for Sonatas (1980 to date)

Campbeltown dropped with offshore races direct to Tarbert (1982)

Unique light displacement CYCA class - the forerunner of today's sportboats (1982)

Computer results system introduced in 1982 and now recognised as the best in the UK

Separate one design class for Sigma 33 (1987 to date)

Separate one design classes in certain years for Impalas, Sigma 38, Melges 24 and Cork 1720

Inner triangle to shorten courses for smaller classes (1986)

Points loading for offshore race reduced from 2 to 1.5 to 1

First racing in Scotland under Channel Handicap (1988)

Second racecourse for smaller classes (1989)

Discard introduced

Windward leeward races - two per day (1993)

Sportboat classes with no overnight races (1994)

Marquee on quayside for main social events (1995-2008)

Restricted Sail Class (1998)

Third racecourse for sportboats with up to three races per day (1998)

Day feeder races (2002)

Overnight and day feeder races discontinued (2005)

Stand-alone Tarbert Inbound and Outbound passage races introduced (2005/6)

With all these changes, some things have stayed the same:

Huge support from Ireland every year since 1975

A magnificent effort ashore and afloat from the volunteer helpers of the Clyde Cruising Club, Royal Scottish Motor Yacht Club and Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club

Results and communications service at the forefront of technology

The best competition and the best social scene in the country

An overall Series winner, the roll call including many of the top sailors in Scotland and beyond.

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