Innovative Race Management Software Debuts at Melges 15 Nationals in Howth, Ireland

Originally Published on Afloat

Race Officer Richard Kissane and the team are getting ready for a new challenge as they prepare for the upcoming Melges 15 nationals in Howth on August 24th and 25th.

The championships will see the Irish debut of RaceSense, a new innovative digital way to run racing. New technology solving old problems.

Every  boat will be fitted with a Vakaros Atlas unit, a GPS device already popular in the class that displays headings, speeds, timing, and trims. Built into every unit is RaceSense, an operating system for racing. With the committee boat and marks also fitted with a device and GPS accuracy to the cm, the PRO can run race organisation from a tablet.

Timing is synced up from the committee boat, OCS detection is automatic and displayed on each boat, and General recalls are a thing of the past! Competitors are notified milliseconds after the start if they're over or not and when they have dipped the start to clear themselves, so it's easier than ever to restart and get racing.

With finish positions recorded and future upgrades to include mark zones and boundaries, the Irish class is excited for a taste of America's Cup-style technology to enhance their racing—not to mention the opportunity to brag about who was the 'Top Gun' recording the quickest speed of the day!