Just read about these ''saildrones'' in AFLOAT magazine and was wandering:
What happens if a cruiser or a vendee globe racer hit a saildrone and sink?
The CSIRO website says that [they]''are equipped with both automatic identification systems (AIS) and ship avoidance systems to alert and avoid other ocean users''. Knowing the number of ships that are still not equipped with ais and that I doubt a constant radar surveillance system is equipped on these things, are they a real danger for small vessels?
I don't find any mention of this on the saildrone website
I recon they would be hard to spot on a good day impossible in foul weather or at night , they might not even show up on a radar displays.
they have ais. what about when the battery or technology fails ect no ais.
there's no one to keep a proper lookout. so i not shore how that complies with regulations
id imagine a Collison with a multihull or fast light weight racing yacht would do some serious damage maybe not to bad with a slower cruising yacht
I'm not sure how many there are but according to the article they will be used mostly in Bass Straight North of the shipping lanes. They will be monitored 24 hours a day using a system similar to what Commonwealth commercial fishing boats have to carry I suspect. It is probably no different to ocean weather buoys as far as hitting one.
C'mon, the things would be lucky to weigh a hundred kilo's, you'd sail through them and not even know. I reckon there's much worse things floating out there to hit...
Select to expand quoteJethrow said..
C'mon, the things would be lucky to weigh a hundred kilo's, you'd sail through them and not even know. I reckon there's much worse things floating out there to hit...
Yep. Tree trunks etc. Most likely be a glancing blow anyway. They are really interesting!
www.csiro.au/en/Research/OandA/Areas/Marine-technologies/Hi-tech-ocean-observing/Saildrone
"Professor Noad estimates more than 30,000 humpbacks alone will migrate northwards up the coast this year, roughly matching peak historical numbers"
Personally I'm happy to take the risk of the Saildrones floating out there considering the benefit they bring.
I don't believe they have as much potential for causing damage to a small vessel than a whale, (and whales selfishly have resisted adopting AIS), as well as the chance due to th enumbers involved.
I can personally attest that running into a whale weighing 10-30 tons is much more scary/risky than I believe hitting a saildrone weighing 100's of kgs would be. I don't think they'd do much damage to be honest, all things considered.
Yep the risk outweighs the benefit to me too. Say you sailed out into the ocean blind folded, with the intention of hitting one, I dont think you ever would.
So saw this at Coffs Marina today. Not sure why damaged. Regardless good on CSIRO for collecting this weather info, schmick windsurfer style rig too
opps sideways
Correct me if I'm wrong but, I think that damage was was not there when it first came in to Coffs???
This one was at Port Macquarie on Saturday arvo.
Probably a different one to the damaged one at Coffs.
Sorry, don't know how to rotate uploaded photos.
Select to expand quoteBlueMoon said..
This one was at Port Macquarie on Saturday arvo.
Probably a different one to the damaged one at Coffs.
Sorry, don't know how to rotate uploaded photos.
Sorry, don't know how to rotate uploaded photos.
I do 
Extremely efficient solar panel mounted at the vertical position like that. I wonder if it lays horizontal during the day to charge the battery's!
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
Extremely efficient solar panel mounted at the vertical position like that. I wonder if it lays horizontal during the day to charge the battery's!
Good thinking. They should add that function into their software.
There are 6 solar panels in total. 4 on deck. They are capable of being deployed for 12mths at a time. I don't think power is their issue. Hazard or vessel collision/avoidance may be a bigger one by the looks.
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
Extremely efficient solar panel mounted at the vertical position like that. I wonder if it lays horizontal during the day to charge the battery's!
My solar panels are vertical each side of my pushpit. I had originally intended to have them pivot up to the horizontal position but found there was not a significant improvement. Close hauled one panel is pointing up and the other side down. I don't have refrigeration, if I did I might consider an extra panel that pivots.
Saildrone in Coffs was #1008. Nsw, not sure, only visited Coffs marina once recently. Unsure of reason for damage too
Saildrone in Port look like #1007
