RAYMARINE CLEARCRUISE AUGMENTED REALITY

Raymarine’s new augmented reality navigation tool constitutes an impressive step forward. With single or multiple cameras mounted on your boat, their latest MFDS are able to overlay navigation information over the live video feed from the cameras. It’s impressive kit with an array of uses. Other craft on the screen, for example, get a tag over them with their AIS data, providing you with a real-time readout of speed, heading and vessel information. Depending on your settings you can enable these tags to show up on the screen beyond sight range which helps give a visual representation of where the craft is in relation to your field of view before you can see it. Other features such as track to waypoints or laylines are overlayed on the water, which could be an incredibly useful training tool, not to mention a handy guide to whether you are making your layline or not. As with all new technology there will be those for whom it is an interesting addition to their sailing inventory and those who feel the tech gets in the way of their enjoyment. Whichever side of that particular fence you fall, you can’t help but admire the technology. It is also interesting to note that Alex Thomson has recently unveiled a partnership with Raymarine for his next attempt at the Vendée Globe, for which you imagine this technology will be crucial, given his move to an almost entirely sealed cockpit from which he will sail for the majority of the race.