Purpose of the Tracker System

1. Safety: We can monitor all sailors from every support boat, and from shore monitors. We can all see their position, speed, and also the battery level of the tracking device. We can easily direct support boats (via VHF and mobile phone) to check on sailors as needed. For example, if a sailor is seen to be stopped in the water for an undue length of time, a support boat will investigate. The boat crews might be dispatched to check, or might take the initiative to do so,depending on the usual factors: eg weather conditions.
2. Conserve support boat fuel: Support boat fuel is a major expense for this regatta. The support boats are generally much more fuel efficient when they can travel at reduced speed and distance. All support boats will closely watch all sailors via the Race Tracking web page from their own mobile phones. They can remotely monitor the locations, and speed that sailors are sailing at, and thus not have to travel as far or fast to check up on sailors.

Limitations

The tracker system is not a substitute for a sailor’s personal responsibility.

1. It does not to change the sailor’s responsibility in any way decide for themselves whether to start or to continue in a race.
2. Sailors must carry still adhere to normal sailing safety requirements: lifejackets, appropriate clothing, and carry water, etc. (There will be a disclaimer clause to sign at the briefing signon.)

How the tracking works

• All sailors in the Windsurfer LT NZ Interdominion Championships 2026 will carry tracker devices. They can also use them to indicate they need assistance.
• Anyone, including the support boat team and the general public can track the sailors, and also the support boats, via the Race Tracking page. They see information from each sailor’s tracker, including key data:
  • position,
  • speed,
  • battery level.
• In addition, the Tracking Administrator(s) have limited control over the tracker devices:
  • to switch them in and out of “idle” mode to conserve battery;
  • to switch “Require Assistance” off, eg when a support boat has responded to and verified that a sailor has been attended to.

Also on the Race Tracking page, racing marks and waypoints for the next/current distance race can be set on the tracking map web page. Generally green marks are to be taken to starboard, and red to port. Other colours are for additional guidelines.

The example above shows an early estimate of the course for Race 1 on Friday 6th. The course was later updated on the day when the race was changed to start at Eastern Beach, and again during the race when the finish point was changed mid-race. Everyone was therefore able to see what the current course was in real-time.

The example above shows several sailors’ trackers all switched to Idle mode (in this case, by an Admin to save battery levels on sailors’ trackers), and the location of a tracker (in this case, a tracker of a support admin person)

Sailors: before the event, please do this…

1. Sailors who are installing it on their own mobile phones should do so a few days before the event and ensure it is working.
2. When setting up the tracker set up, show your First name, initial of surname, and Sail number
3. All trackers will be verified as operational by the end of the Briefing at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club on the Thursday night – 5th March. Andrew, sailor and system developer, will be on hand from 5pm before the briefing starts (at 6:30), to check and assist with any late setup issues, and will provide purpose-built devices to those who have requested them. If you are around Bucklands Beach, you might also see him a day or two beforehand. (There are a few spares for anyone having trouble running it on their own mobile phone.)