RaceSense Takes Over Regattas Around the World
September has come to a close, and what a month it was for Vakaros! We brought RaceSense to ten different regattas, including four world championships, showcasing the future of on-water race management to a variety of classes. From Europe to North America, our team was on the move more than twice a week, putting RaceSense to the test in diverse conditions and proving that it can be used by everyone, at every level, and for every class.
The Highlight of the Month – J/70 Worlds in Palma de Mallorca
One of the standout events of September was undoubtedly the J/70 Worlds in Palma de Mallorca, held from September 13 to 22. The J/70 class is the leader in one-design sailing, and with 97 boats lining up on the starting line, it was one of the largest fleets we've ever managed with RaceSense. This prestigious event served as the ultimate proving ground for our system, and it did not disappoint.
RaceSense played a crucial role in handling such a large fleet. Its real-time feedback and automated start-line management helped create a smooth, efficient, and fair racing experience. Steve Hunt, tactician on Good to Go, praised the impact: "I think RaceSense saved a lot of time, it's a game changer. There were no general recalls, and if you happen to be over the line, all you need to do is bear away until it says you are clear."
Martin Lemarchand, sailing on Raph Seven: "We’ve never had an event like this without black flags. Normally, they try to hoist the P flag on the first race of the series, but everybody is pushing so hard, then all the following starts are under U or Black Flag. This is a big improvement, and it makes races faster as well."
RS21 Worlds in Costa Brava, Spain Another major event this month was the RS21 Worlds, held in the beautiful waters of Costa Brava, Spain, with 46 strong entries. For this championship, we partnered with SeaDis and MarkSetBot to deliver an even more precise and fair race management experience for all involved.
Niccolò Bianchi, Vakaros European Sales Manager, reflected on the success: "Vakaros started developing RaceSense in 2016. Our engineers worked really hard to develop this system and we are incredibly happy with the result, we are convinced that this represents a revolution within the sailing community. It's more reliable, it's more fair, and it's a game changer for both organizers and sailors. We have a lot of advantages, first of all, we don't have to ping the line anymore, saving a lot of time that we would usually spend in the pre-start and also, after the start, the instrument on board tells you whether you are over the line or not. All you need to do if you are OCS is dive back, clear the start, and go back to your upwind."
Kicking Off at Lake Garda – RS21 Italian Championship and M32 Worlds
We started the month strong at the RS21 Italian Championship, set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Garda. Known for its iconic winds and incredible scenery, Lake Garda delivered exciting racing conditions. Right after, the M32 Worlds took over from September 2 to 8, with RaceSense ensuring smooth and fair races throughout the championship.
Back to the Midwest – E Scow Nationals
Following our time in Italy, we flew back to the Midwest for the E Scow Nationals, held from September 5 to 8. The competition was on, and RaceSense’s precision once again ensured that, with this system in use, there was no need for black flags or general recalls.
Wrapping Up the Month – J/88 North Americans and J/24 Worlds
As September came to a close, we headed to the J/88 North Americans from September 26 to 29, delivering precise on-water management to this competitive class. Finally, we will finish the month on a high with the J/24 Worlds in Seattle, running from September 28 to October 4. RaceSense will play a key role in this prestigious event, reinforcing its place as a must-have tool for competitive sailing.
September was a marathon for the Vakaros team, and the success at the J/70 Worlds showed that RaceSense is truly a game-changer in race management.
Doug Wake, Event Director at Vakaros said: “This was our stronger month ever as a company, we’ve been involved in four World Championships in a range of classes. RaceSense changed the sport, more than it ever has.”
