{"id":69862,"date":"2021-07-06T15:27:43","date_gmt":"2021-07-06T19:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=69862"},"modified":"2023-05-06T23:02:48","modified_gmt":"2023-05-07T03:02:48","slug":"autopilots-for-racing-sailors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/gear\/autopilots-for-racing-sailors\/","title":{"rendered":"Autopilots for Racing Sailors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n With autopilot remote at the ready, Francesca Clapcich can helm the Figaro Beneteau 3 from anywhere on the boat.<\/span>\n Paul Todd\/Outside Images<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Autopilots aren\u2019t new, but modern technology has made today\u2019s autopilots considerably better than previous-generation offerings. Moreover, the utility that contemporary autopilots offer make them must-have equipment for doublehanded sailors racing aboard 30- to 50-footers. Here\u2019s a look at how they work, the hardware and software involved, and the performance and safety benefits that they deliver, both for ground-up installations and refits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Autopilots are electro\u00admechanical systems that\u2014as their name implies\u2014can steer a boat to a specified compass course, wind angle, waypoint or route. Unlike human drivers, autopilots never suffer concentration gaps, or get tired or scared, so long as they\u2019re fed a steady diet of information and DC power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

While each manufacturer has its own approach to hardware and software, autopilot hardware generally consists of a processor (sometimes also called an autopilot computer), a power-supply unit, a control head, a rudder-angle sensor, networked sensors (e.g., wind, speed and depth), a drive system and\u2014optionally\u2014one or more remote controls. Additionally, some autopilots employ advanced sensors that are used to clean or stabilize networked sensor data to give the pilot better, more reliable information. We\u2019ll get to that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Most autopilot processors and power-supply units are black boxes. The processors pull information from the system\u2019s networked sensors and rapidly crunch the numbers needed to efficiently drive the boat. They\u2019re networked to the control head(s) and\/or the boat\u2019s multifunction display, which serves as the system\u2019s user interface. Power-supply units draw DC power from the boat\u2019s battery banks and send it\u2014as needed and as dictated by the processor\u2014to the system\u2019s hydraulic- or mechanical-drive system (i.e., the system\u2019s muscle; this typically consists of a hydraulic cylinder or mechanical arm that attaches to the hull on one side and the rudder quadrant on its business end, plus a rudder-angle indicator), which actuates the rudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Unlike human helmsmen, autopilots can\u2019t see what\u2019s ahead of or behind the boat, so they leverage networked instrument data to keep the boat sailing to its specified course, wind angle or waypoint. Because of this, all autopilot systems require at a minimum a heading sensor, wind sensor and boatspeed sensor. Years ago, autopilots used fluxgate compasses for heading information. While these worked, their analog nature and sluggish reporting rates (ballpark is once per second, or 1 hertz) yielded jumpy numbers when sailing in big seas. Their inherent latency doesn\u2019t mix well with modern processors either. Because of this, most auto\u00adpilot manufacturers switched to employing solid-state, nine-axis compasses for heading sensors several years ago. These compasses provide accurate pitch, yaw and roll information (typically accurate to plus or minus 2 degrees), which they report at a rate of 10 hertz (ballpark).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Wind data is obviously critical to performance sailing, and autopilot driving is no exception. \u201cYou need a masthead unit for wind angle and windspeed,\u201d says Mike Vellucci of EuroMarine Trading, which imports and distributes NKE marine electronics. Vellucci says this information comes in the form of apparent wind angle and apparent windspeed data. Most modern systems also use heading data from their networked compass and boatspeed from either a \u00adnetworked through-hull transducer to measure speed over water or their networked GPS antenna to measure speed over ground to calculate true-wind data. The autopilot system then uses this data to calculate the true wind angle, true windspeed and true wind direction. Once networked and installed, an autopilot will sail to the [wind] angle you tell it, Vellucci says. \u201cIt will do everything in its power to [hold] that [angle].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Critically, autopilots can steer to AWAs or TWAs, depending on the situation and point of sail. Apparent wind angle is generally used when sailing upwind, when the angle is stable, Garmin\u2019s Jon Josephson says, adding that TWA is generally preferred when autopilots are sailing downwind, both to avoid accidental jibes and to yield better performance should the wind get shifty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Additionally, autopilots require speed-over-water \u00adsensors and a networked GPS. \u201cThe more data we can feed the pilot, the more it can do for us,\u201d Raymarine\u2019s Jim McGowan says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Unlike autopilot systems of yore, most contemporary autopilot manufacturers offer high-performance sensors that can be used to remove vessel motion from heading and wind-angle information. \u201cPitch and roll can induce AWS,\u201d B&G\u2019s Matt Eeles says. \u201cIt\u2019s noisy data.\u201d For example, B&G\u2019s H5000 CPU can integrate the boat\u2019s motion and heel angle, and deliver gyro-compensated wind information, yielding stable apparent-wind readings. Likewise, Garmin, NKE and Raymarine autopilots also have the ability to scrub data for vessel movement. \u201cWhen the masthead [wind] sensor moves, it throws error into the wind calculations,\u201d McGowan says. \u201c[Raymarine\u2019s] EV1 sensor delivers real-time filtering and stabilization so that oscillations are removed and clean information is fed into the autopilot\u2019s processor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The other significant advantage of cleaner data is reduced rudder articulation, which reduces electrical consumption and bolsters VMG. \u201cIf you put raw sensor data [into the autopilot], it will be all over the place and it will burn lots of power,\u201d Eeles says. \u201cYou don\u2019t want the pilot to react to every little puff or change\u2026it risks the pilot being out of control. You also don\u2019t want to dampen the data because this creates a lot of latency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Modern autopilots can also employ software to introduce some level of intelligence to automated driving. For example, most contemporary autopilots have the ability to deal with gusts and wind shifts to prevent the boat from accidentally rounding up or jibing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf an autopilot is sailing to a wind angle and a 5-knot gust comes, you want it to do what you\u2019d do as a helmsman: Bear away and take the sting out,\u201d Eeles says. While this is a great feature, Josephson reminds users to build a certain amount of margin into their user-selected parameters. \u201cDon\u2019t set the jibe alarm at 178 degrees,\u201d he says. \u201cIf the wind gets behind the sail, the boom will go over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Josephson recommends setting the alarm at 160 degrees. \u201cMake sure the parameter is set so it\u2019s not on the edge,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Remote controls are the final important consideration, especially for shorthanded sailors, because they enable course changes or corrections to be made from anywhere on board rather than from a multi\u00adfunction display or a control head. \u201cIt\u2019s [my] primary pilot controller,\u201d Eeles says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are tasks that require all hands on deck,\u201d McGowan says. \u201cIt\u2019s not always an option to run back to the cockpit. Plus, there are also some safety considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

These remotes can also provide an additional safety margin for doublehanded sailing, where man-overboard scenarios can be a true \u00adnightmare. Vellucci explains that NKE autopilots have two modes: solo and fully crewed. Sailors carry remote controls that are electronically linked to the autopilot (think geofencing); should a remote break contact with the autopilot, one of its MOB modes activates, creating an audible alarm and automatically switching the system\u2019s graphic display(s) to a dedicated MOB page. \u201cIn solo mode, it puts the boat head-to-wind,\u201d Vellucci says. \u201cIn crewed mode, the system displays a bearing and distance to where the MOB event occurred, [and it also] starts a timer.\u201d (Note: The waypoint marks the latitude and longitude of where electronic contact with the remote was lost, not the MOB\u2019s real-time location.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

These advancements offer huge benefits to doublehanded crews, but it\u2019s critical to properly spec the system for the boat. For example, if you\u2019re \u00adtaking a J\/105 that\u2019s mostly been used for round-the-buoy racing and are adding a complete autopilot system, Josephson and McGowan both advise using vessel weight as a guide for what system to purchase. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if the boat is tiller- or wheel-driven,\u201d McGowan says, adding that Raymarine (and other manufacturers) make autopilots for both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

You need a drive unit that works with your quadrant and the boat\u2019s displacement, McGowan says. He also notes that most boatbuilders list the dry weight of their steeds, which doesn\u2019t account for sails, crew, provisions or additional safety gear. In the case of a J\/105, the dry displacement weight is 7,750 pounds. \u201cWe always add 20 percent, so 9,300 pounds,\u201d McGowan says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Josephson agrees, adding that if the boat\u2019s racing weight is close to the maximum a drive can handle, it\u2019s usually \u00adbetter to step up to a bigger drive \u00adsystem. Another consideration involves the number of rudders. \u201cOne drive is enough [to control a boat with two rudders],\u201d Josephson says, adding that these boats\u2014for example, Class 40s\u2014typically have dual rudder quadrants and a connecting tie bar, so the autopilot drive needs to be attached to only one of the quadrants. \u201cBut the second rudder might add 50 percent of the load of the first rudder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Conversely, if you\u2019re \u00adrefitting a new autopilot into a boat that\u2019s already equipped with an older autopilot system, even if it\u2019s built by a different manufacturer, odds are good that you\u2019ll be able to reuse pumps and drives. This is because most marine-electronics \u00adcompanies source their drive units from the same manufacturers, so they\u2019re not typically proprietary. \u201cIf there\u2019s a nameplate on the drive, take a photo of it and talk to your dealer,\u201d McGowan says. \u201cThis can be a big money saver because drive units can be many thousands of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s theoretically \u00adpossible to add\u2014for example\u2014a Raymarine autopilot to a B&G-, Garmin- or NKE-equipped boat, most sailors will find that it\u2019s best to stay within the same electronics manufacturer\u2019s (semi)walled garden because this usually allows the boat\u2019s multifunction display to talk to\u2014and control\u2014the autopilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Another important consideration involves where the drive system is physically located. As mentioned, most autopilot drives are situated belowdecks; however, some systems are cockpit-mounted. While these systems work fine, some cockpit-\u00admounted, tiller-driven systems can present a tripping hazard to a doublehanded team that is constantly scurrying around the boat. Because of this, below-deck drives are considered the optimal installation for doublehanded or \u00adshorthanded crews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Irrespective of how or where your autopilot is installed, it\u2019s critical to spend time practicing with your system and dialing in its user-configured parameters prior to hitting the racecourse. \u201cI think the key is using it so that you understand how it works,\u201d Josephson says. \u201cUnderstanding the [user-selected] inputs can greatly affect the performance of the pilot\u2026. [Sailors] really need to use [their autopilot], understand what it\u2019s doing and how [parameter] changes affect its performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re interested in shorthanded racing and considering adding a modern autopilot, not only will it drive your boat with far more precision than an old-school system, but it will also do so while consuming less DC power and exerting less \u00adrudder as well.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re seeking a reliable co-skipper that can deliver to the targets all watch long, without any relief, you\u2019re in luck because modern autopilots are faster and more reliable than even the best professional hand on the helm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32057,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"David Schmidt","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20210706","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"155","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"What are the latest and best autopilot systems for sailboat racing? Here's a look at the top brands and the benefits of each.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"XJS6GLH4PZFGLJ4DIUSJA4TVW4","arc_website_url":"story\/gear\/autopilots-for-racing-sailors\/","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":0,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[155],"tags":[1591,172,165,1582],"class_list":["post-69862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","tag-autopilot","tag-electronics","tag-gear","tag-print-2021-summer"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}