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Two of the most automated yachts on the planet… and yet. In evolving from the AC50s to the F50s used for SailGP, half of the operating functions were automated. In spite of that the best F50 team in the world (left) – Team Australia – is still heading for a swim in San Francisco. The most automated sailboat of all time (above) – Black Pearl’s skipper can hoist sail wirelessly, lift anchor and sail away… while ashore in a café. But not much use once you are already pinned on a lee shore like a hapless novice
c) use of an auto pilot when prescribed by the NoR or SIs. It is preferable to speak of non-manual power and not just stored power. There are many other sources of direct power than the crew. Not much comes for free in rating rules, ORC now lists penalties for NMP (Non-Manual Power) as does IRC for stored power. For what is meant by a hydrofoil in ORC 204 we have to go to the latest WS Equipment Rules of Sailing: ‘A hull appendage primarily used to affect leeway and/or produce vertical lift, which may incorporate any or all of: Fuselage, Foil mast, Elevator, Front wing, Rear wing’. Great, explaining a new term by introducing five others of similar clarity… and without defining any of them.
As neither rating rule brings us any nearer to whether the decision to engage or stop the use of non-manual power is one solely made by the crew, the question remains whether we may have a computer making all these adjustments? I say of course not, except when explicitly permitted, but where does it actually say that? Once we are on the slippery slope of computers controlling non-manual power the options are near-unlimited and not that easy to define. If you want evidence, check the latest AC75 class rule pages 41-50: ‘Control systems, Hydraulic control circuits, Electrical and electronic systems, Electronic control circuits, Instrumentation and logging system, and Crew information system.’ An impressive amount of thought and detail resulting in texts that just try to close off every avenue for things going completely out of control… The alternative of course is to regulate hardly anything and then most likely watch at best two amazing craft having some boring racing. If you have downloaded the AC75 class rule, just read the whole thing. There is much in there that will trickle down one day, as well as helping you to understand the sort of racing there will be when we get there. So should this trickledown be subtly allowed to keep sailing and event rules on a par with what is technologically possible? With ‘sail by wire’ boats now being built and raced I feel organisers should not be the ones left with the burden to decide, especially once other competitors voice their concern about whether these boats are eligible to compete in any kind of mix with ‘manual’ boats. Or should they always (for now) compete in a class of their own? Add to ‘sail by wire’ ‘fly by wire’ and then it only becomes even more complicated. Archimedean versus (semi)-Archimedean racing presents enough of a problem on its own. Interesting development of course, and one that we have to deal with, but thinking that just rating these developments will allow for fair racing and a ‘peaceful coexistence’ with more ‘dinosaur’ boat types can only be called naive. Sail Assist might be the future for cruising but Race Assist, a computer not just trimming the rig, sails and appendages but also self-learning and improving, should surely be well thought through before being allowed to infiltrate (too far) into our racing? Rob Weiland, TP52 and Maxi72 class manager
SEAHORSE 37
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