By Lynn Fitzpatrick

The Mike Sands initiated thread in Sailingscuttlebutt.com about automated boats are not far fetched. In fact, they exist. Some of the very same people who are involved with the AC33 technology developments are part of the team that have contributed to Harbor Wing Technologies’ X-1 autonomous unmanned surface vessel (AUSV), which has passed a battery of tests. Primarily wind powered, it can steer its own way through a figure eight more smoothly than a captain and a crew practicing man overboard drills. No one is on board. No sheets or lines are on deck. No sails need trimming. No commands need to be shouted. The boom and the mainsail do not crash across the boat during a jibe. Everything is executed with precision and the boat arrives exactly at pre-designated GPS waypoints that can be programmed remotely.

This AUSV integrates breakthrough technologies in wing sail, hull, hydrofoil, data transmission, navigation and computer programming. The team boasts leaders in all of these facets of engineering and design - David Hubbard and Duncan MacLane, famous for their inventive wing designs for the C-Class catamarans and the 1988 America’s Cup victor, Stars & Stripes are pouring decades of knowledge into this next generation of wings. Gino Morrelli, Pete Melvin and their colleagues are designing and developing multihull platforms for recreational, commercial and military uses. Dr. Sam Bradfield is perfecting hydrofoil design and operation. GPS systems and software development specialists, Dr. Gabriel Elkaim and Dr. Lee Boyce, are working on data transmission, communication, controls and robotics and Stan Honey, famed navigator, with degrees in electrical engineering and applied sciences, is lending his sailing and software development knowledge to this revolutionary invention. Check it out www.Harborwingtech.com

Let’s go beyond the America’s Cup and look at the military and commercial applications of an AUSV that can be programmed from anywhere and can carry a payload of drones. Think about using these AUSV’s to protect fisheries, patrol in pirate prone areas, to control drug trafficking. They are not gas guzzling. They are not crewed and don’t put people in harm’s way. Images and information garnered from them could be used to prosecute those breaking the law. The race for a technology advantage in the America’s Cup may help the world solve more far-reaching issues.