We’re proud to announce that MarkSetBot is a finalist for the 2020 World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award!
The award showcases the depth of global sustainability initiatives within the marine industry and celebrates the effective execution or ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly-replicable initiatives.
MarkSetBot has always had a keen focus on sustainability. “Zero emissions from mark laying boats, zero damage to the seabed, and improved quality of racing and coaching for participants has been our goal from the start. Being a finalist for this award says we’re on the right track,” said Kevin Morin, founder of MarkSetBot.
In recognizing MarkSetBot, the committee had the following to say:
“MarkSetBot (USA) is the world’s first robotic sailboat racing mark. It’s an innovation that is revolutionizing the way races are run, reducing significant sailing-related environmental stressors.
The fully electric mark can run an entire day on a single charge (and can be charged with solar), reducing the need for fossil fuel burning power boats that are typically required to set a racecourse. As such, the number of volunteers required to deliver the event is reduced and seabed destructive anchors are eliminated.
In bolstering Race Committees’ ability to run clean races, MarkSetBot makes no sacrifices on the quality of races, setting precise courses that make course adjustments easy. MarkSetBots have been used by more than 100 clubs around the world and have partnered with organizations focused on developing sustainable events, including SailGP and Yacht Club de Monaco’s Solar and Energy Challenge.”
As part of the application to World Sailing, MarkSetBot submitted an environmental impact study conducted by Earth to Ocean. The assessment studied the impact in carbon savings, seabed damage avoided, hours of potential pollution risk avoided, number of people benefiting from improved racing and number of days of improved sailing. In all scenarios modeled, substantial improvements were recognized. Earth to Ocean concluded, “MarkSetBot provides a non-invasive, low carbon solution to mark laying and should be considered as part of the environmental improvements to be taken on a racecourse.”
Our vision for a sustainable racecourse goes beyond the buoy with MarkSetBot’s latest release, RaceOS. RaceOS enables clubs and regatta organizers to automate or partially automate their racecourse. “While we believe eliminating anchored buoys and mark setting power boats is a significant sustainability improvement, our ultimate goal is the development of a fully autonomous race course with ZERO environmental impact,” said Morin. At one extreme, the entire course runs itself. At the other extreme, it equips race committees with tools to make their job easier. RaceOS features automatic OCS detection, self-adjusting courses, and finish time reporting.
New this year, the selection of the winner of the World Sailing 11th Hour Sustainability award is up to the community. The public vote will open on November 27 and close on December 4.
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