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Displaying items by tag: OUTBOARDWARDEN

I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of protecting your boat and marine equipment.
Since then I have been talking to a man who has developed a unique system to prevent thieves stealing outboard engines, of which thefts there has been a huge increase in the past 18 months, according to Gardai.
Kevin Hennessy describes his company as “a small Irish tech operation.” He is based in Youghal on the East Cork coastline, not far from the studios of Community Radio Youghal where my radio programme, THIS ISLAND NATION, is produced and which you can hear below.
Kevin’s company may be a “small tech operation” but it is setting international headlines with the development of a digital padlock to protect outboards and foil thieves, who seem to have been operating in organised gangs to steal engines.
Kevin, a boating enthusiast, began with BOATWARDEN and has now created OUTBOARDWARDEN. In his premises I saw an impressive system monitoring boat security in several parts of the world. His new system has been adopted by one of the biggest engine distributors in Britain and is this week being introduced at the world’s largest marine equipment trade show in Amsterdam. This is METSTRADE, where over 20,000 professionals from 112 countries gather.
Kevin Hennessy describes what his company has achieved.
A padlock on an outboard is not easy to develop I said to him when I began interviewing him.
You can hear how he overcame that difficult developmental challenge by listening to THIS ISLAND NATION Podcast below.

Published in Island Nation

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.