Boat with a Brain!

[Barry Rietz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYmVwvP_pD0&list=RDCMUCBpxspUNl1Th33XbugiHJzw&index=1

[hardee]

Barry, a few years ago there was an autonomous sail boat that was entered into the Race to Alaska. It was about 4 feet long, a monohull, about 5 ft mast, with a main and jib. It was supposed to go from Port Townsend to Victoria harbor all on it's own (Seems in the rule book there was no mention of a minimum crew number, only unlimitied maximum crew.) It did not make it. It could not overcome the currents and wind lulls, but after 24 hours I believe it was picked up at less than half way (of about 40 miles). It was only sail powered. Cure red sail boat, but just didn't have the capability.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Barry Rietz]

Harvey, I do remember that stunt at a time when the "Trans-Pac" events were quite the thing and drew many entries to the challenge. Didn't the crew-less sailboat end up lost at sea and never heard from again? I think the "MIT" experiment is little more than research similar to the driver-less car idea. Lets hope we never have to meet up with one of those container ships, "without a helmsman", on the high seas!

[hardee]

Barry, I tried to find some info on the 6 foot autonomous sailboat, but no joy. Iknow I have some photos of it, taken before the race start, and I think some from on the water but no joy in my own search either. I really do not remember, for sure, the outcome, but I know it did not reach Victoria, and there was going to be some issue there as the harbor does not allow sail powered vessels inside the harbor, so human power -- row, paddle or peddle, not motors of any kind, is what the R2AK rules state. The team was thinking that they might get away with it becasue they might be considered a "toy" and sneak in under another loop hole.

As to "Lets hope we never have to meet up with one of those container ships, "without a helmsman", on the high seas!" Pretty sure that any blue water sailor can tell you stories of that happening already. I have an acquaintance that wrote a book about her experience with that exact scenario. Check out Dee Saunders story, "Unsinkable", available from Fine Edge, Anacortes, WA. Harrowing, and encouraging in preserverance.

Harvey
SleepyC

[thataway]

The first unmanned sailboat to cross the Atlantic in 2018

Here is a site about autommous vessels around the World and across the Atlantic:

Yes, we have had several encounters among our dozen or so evasive maneuvers we have had to take to keep from being run down at sea. Several were no sign of anyone on the bridge. One the single crew on the bridge in the middle of the night, woke up when we shined our spotlight on the bridge--initially we had attempted VHF radio Channel 16 contact on a ship on a 90* course from ours, while we were sailing from Puerto Rico to Panama. Then we turned our our spreader lights, and shown the spot light on our sails. Finally on the bridge. The reason was we could not tell what was going on with the ship--there was some suggestion on radar that it might have been towing an object and the lights shown seemed to confirm that. When the mate woke up, he saw the bright search light, our mast head steaming light (Turned on when no response and I had started the engine, to bring the boat head into the trade wind/seas..) Plus a strobe on the mast which was also turned on to alert the vessel. The mate called for full reverse engines and turned on every light on the decks and masts. We were stand on vessel on two counts--Starboard and sailboat under sail. By this time, I had undone the preventer and brought the boat into the wind under engine power--to let the situation sort out--and if he was towing, allow at least 2 miles astern for our crossing. (We normally would adjust our course, to pass astern, and let commercial traffic what we were doing--if that was OK with them.). The captain came on the ships VHF radio, very apologetically explaining that the mate had fallen asleep, and would be leaving the ship at Vera Cruz their next port.

We have had issues with passenger ships also, where no response from the VHF and we had to alter course until we sorted out the situation. One was as leaving Los Angeles Harbor and a Matson liner was leaving Long Beach. I just wanted to know if I should hold my course, or slow down to pass astern, since we were on collision course.. No response from the Matson Line vessel on 16 or traffic scheme channel 14.. I gave a Pan Pan call to CG, and still no response. Told CG if I didn't call back in 5 minutes to come looking--had life raft and survival suit ready to go. The ship missed us by about 100 yards.

Then there was a coastal freighter which had cut the corner in the Straits of Messina. (Between Italy and Sicily, where there are many lights, and train ferry running back and forth.) The 150 foot coastal freighter was on the wrong side of the controlled channel, and had just come around the headland of Sicily, so he was not on our radar until we were several hundred yards apart. I saw his lights and he saw mine. Fortunately we both turned to Starboard, and cleared by a few yards. He apologized on the VHF--no securite call and was not following the traffic scheme. At least there was a watch stander.