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14-11-2013, 07:51
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#1
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Saildrone Completes Pacific Crossing
Posted on November 13, 2013 by andrew
On November 4th, 2013, Saildrone 1 arrived in Kaneohe, Hawaii, 34 days after leaving San Francisco. This amazing accomplishment sets a new world record for a autonomous sailboats as well as being the first unmanned and autonomous vessel to cross an ocean using wind power...
Saildrone Completes Pacific Crossing | Cruising Compass
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Amazing.
But the first question that comes to mind - what type of anchor does it carry?
edit: some video...ohhh I want one - just for kicks....
http://vimeo.com/63986103
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"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
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Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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14-11-2013, 08:01
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Homer, AK is my home port
Boat: Skookum 53'
Posts: 4,042
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Did it have guns aboard? Great now we will have to watch out for all the folks out there who are "virtual sailing" along with the ones that are there in person.
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" Wisdom; is your reward for surviving your mistakes"
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14-11-2013, 08:02
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Homer, AK is my home port
Boat: Skookum 53'
Posts: 4,042
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
You too can sail across the Pacific ocean without all the fuss and muss of actually being there.
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" Wisdom; is your reward for surviving your mistakes"
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14-11-2013, 08:08
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#4
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
This contraption was foreseen by DOJ when he stated even a goat could circumnavigate. Its all on the CF archives!
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14-11-2013, 08:14
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#5
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Quote:
Originally Posted by captain58sailin
You too can sail across the Pacific ocean without all the fuss and muss of actually being there.
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Can you imagine the internet generation being given the opportunity to tune in via their iphones to a camera remote on one of these bad boys?
Or even better wait till google gets ahold of this and starts google mapping the milk run...
"Honey what was that thump did we hit something?"
"No dear - it was just one of those google drones, must have been a user error in our autopilot...oh wait its still floating. Hon, since we are a bit low on batteries do you mind if I fire up the engine and make a second pass while Im at it?"
Seriously though - this will be a big boon to more comprehensive ocean research. I am assuming they can have their course altered remotely so they can be used to position themselves to follow fish stocks, whale migration patterns, use their microphones etc.
They could also study deep water algae blooms, garbage patch issues, track debris patters - i mean it is really endless if you can get the price point of each down far enough.
Better make them soft - cause i am sure fisherman and sailors wont see them at night until they hear them bumping along the hull...
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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14-11-2013, 08:15
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Quote:
Originally Posted by captain58sailin
Great now we will have to watch out for all the folks out there who are "virtual sailing" along with the ones that are there in person.
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Very good point actually, the not having the ability to "see and avoid" is the only thing keeping our skies from being filled with RPV's, drones or whatever you want to call them.
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14-11-2013, 08:31
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Homer, AK is my home port
Boat: Skookum 53'
Posts: 4,042
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
AUV is one of the terms. OUV is another depending on above ground or underwater.
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" Wisdom; is your reward for surviving your mistakes"
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14-11-2013, 08:39
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
I think this is a wonderful combination of technological progress and adventure. The engineering challenges are fascinating and will no doubt lead to breakthroughs in other fields. I sometimes consider trying to build my own autonomous sailboat, or perhaps sponsoring a high-school group project, just for the challenge and satisfaction.
As long as they are small, and visually noticeable (an AIS beacon would be good too), I'm not too concerned with these vessels being a hazard at sea. I would guess that there are at least 100x as many shipping containers adrift than as there are autonomous boats out there. And 1,000,000x as many floating trees, timbers, etc.
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Paul Elliott, S/V VALIS - Pacific Seacraft 44 #16 - Friday Harbor, WA
www.sailvalis.com
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14-11-2013, 08:51
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Homer, AK is my home port
Boat: Skookum 53'
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
My response was tongue in cheek, they are already working on and have the technology to render ship's crews obsolete. Except they can't figure out how to chip paint and rust remotely. One day I am sure that will be done too.
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" Wisdom; is your reward for surviving your mistakes"
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14-11-2013, 09:19
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#10
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
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Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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23-11-2013, 15:26
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#11
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cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Vanuatu
Boat: Whiting 29' extended "Nightcap"
Posts: 1,569
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Surely a "Pacific Crossing" means going from one side to the other. Isn't Hawaii only about a third of the way across from the US?
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23-11-2013, 15:34
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Everywhere (Sea of Cortez right now)
Boat: PSC Orion 27
Posts: 1,377
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Beth
This contraption was foreseen by DOJ when he stated even a goat could circumnavigate. Its all on the CF archives!
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We'll see,
Goat
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23-11-2013, 15:39
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: W Florida
Boat: Still have the 33yo Jon boat. But now a CATAMARAN. Nice little 18' Bay Cat.
Posts: 7,086
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Impressive.
I have some thoughts, though undeveloped.
I am sure someone will think of them and post them..........the funny ones too.
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Who knows what is next.
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23-11-2013, 15:53
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,483
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Gee... how did it survive without ais?
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23-11-2013, 16:09
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Re: Sailing Drone Completes Pacific Crossing
Gees! A trimaran with a keel. Surely it had to be self righting. I've always wanted a sailing submarine.
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