Cornwall sailing week to use robot race markers

Cornwall Council has said seven MarkSetBots will be used during Falmouth Sailing Week

Falmouth Sailing Week is set to employ the help of robotic floats designed to better protect marine habitats than standard buoys, Cornwall Council has confirmed.

The doughnut-shaped markers, known as MarkSetBots, were battery-powered and would appear to move around by themselves, officials said.

They used GPS to navigate their surroundings and could also be controlled by member of the committee boat team, they added.

Falmouth Sailing Week will take place between 9 and 18 August and will be the second regatta in the country where the unique course-marking bots were used, organisers said.

'No carbon fuels'

Cornwall Council confirmed it would be sponsoring two of the seven race marker bots.

A spokesperson said the local authority invested in the eco-friendly MarkSetBots from its Fal and Helford Section 106 environmental fund.

The technologically advanced buoys were better at protecting the marine environment compared to standard race markers as they did not need an anchor, they said.

The bot's battery-driven electric motor also meant no carbon fuels were necessary and solar panels are used to top up batteries during use, they added.

As well as being better for the environment, the council said they would reduce the workload of volunteers in the bay who would normally need to tow race marks out to the race area and tow them back again after the competition.

Martyn Alvey, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: "We’re happy to be supporting the MarkSetBots, which will not only show the competitors where to race, but be a spectacle themselves as they move around on the water.

"As a keen sailor, I’m looking forward to seeing these technological marvels at work.

"They’re a great example of how we’re protecting our marine habitats while supporting recreation on our beautiful estuaries and rivers."