Increasing safety with technology

As big boats increase in speed, so do the safety hazards. If a crew falls overboard, recovery decreases, particularly if they are attached by a tether. But also obstacles become less avoidable as the time to react is minimized.

When BMW Oracle Racing launched their 90-foot trimaran for the 2010 America’s Cup, it would trail an escort boat that was responsible for detecting debris. The team wanted no setbacks in their quest to claim the cup.

Offshore races magnify the issues with fewer crew, particularly as solo racers fail to maintain a permanent watch. Even with the best effort, collisions with unidentified floating objects (UFO) are common, and when something hard is getting hit by something fast, disaster can follow…

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