Change of contact details and future of the Microtransat

[colin...@gmail.com]

Dear all,

After many years I will be leaving Aberystwyth University in early 2023. As a result my aber.ac.uk email address that many of you have contacted me about various things relating to the Microtransat will stop working at some point soon (I don't know exactly when, but it might be as early as tomorrow, it could be a few months). For the time being please use this gmail address to contact me.

I've now been running the Microtransat website, mailing lists and the competition in general for over 15 years. For a  few years now, but especially in the last year I've struggled to find enough time to work on it properly. I'm not sure if my new job will allow me more time or not yet. Either way I think it is time to start finding ways for other people to help with running the Microtransat. I'm not sure what the best way to do this is, we could just ask for volunteers, or we could have some kind of elected committee. If we have an elected committee how do we decide who can vote and stand for election?

I hope you all have a good new year and look forward to seeing many more Microtransat attempts in the future.

Colin.

[Robin Lovelock on robin@gpss.co.uk]

Thanks Colin - that's what I call a well chosen email address and easy to remember: colinsauze&gmail.com i.e. colin sauze without the space at gmail dot com.

Hope you find someone in or near your Uni - it would seem a better solution than just relying on a volunteer - particularly someone who cannot be checked ;-)

I suggest, someone you feel suitable, employed within a University. Someone like Jamie Styles maybe ?

My newsletter is off topic, but, if and when I employ someone, or delegate work, I like to know them well :-)

No - I am definitely not available, I think the same applies to most on this forum :-)

Have a great 2023

Robin Lovelock on www.gpss.co.uk with newsletter on www.gpss.co.uk/xmas22.htm

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[Peter Facey]

Well, thanks for all your hard work on Microtransat over such a long time. I hope you can remain involved.

[andy]

I also suggest the University for one more reason. I think it's important to keep it non-profit, i.e. prevent any business related to autonomous boats from taking over the website / competition. Otherwise it would discourage teams and their sponsors from competing and the teams will hardly find sponsors. It's something to keep in mind.

Happy new year!

[D A]

Thanks Colin for all your hard work on this!  15yrs is quite the tour of duty.  If volunteers are useful, I help run the Swindon Makerspace and a number of us follow this group/ have boat projects underway… We’d be happy to help with website hosting, discourse, etc.  it’s not dissimilar to what we already do for the Makerspace.

Thanks

Damian

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[Pablo Sopelana]

Hi Colin, All,

 

I've been following the Microtransat and the Robotic Sailing Conference since 2011. I bought the proceedings of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th International Robotic Sailing Conference, and for some years, I was planning to join either a team (I almost joined the Åland Islands team, Finland in 2014) or start a new one for the Microtransant. I have also been tinkering around with microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators since then (mostly Arduino and Arduino-related platform).

 

Some time ago, I started Navalapp (https://navalapp.com), which aims to make Yacht Design & Performance accessible by opening specialized subjects related to Naval Architecture & Yacht Design to a broader audience. We currently accomplish our mission through online courses (https://navalapp.com/courses/), articles (https://navalapp.com/articles/), calculations(https://navalapp.com/calculations/), an online community (https://navalapp.com/news-feed/), and regular publishing on social media. Regarding our online Community, everybody is welcome. The only requirements are an unrestricted desire to learn, share knowledge, and constructively support others in their journey. There are currently more than 2300 members from all around the world. We are also very active on social media, where we have some thousands of followers in different media (>2k on Facebook, and LinkedIn, >30k on Instagram, and currently growing on YouTube and others). 

 

If the Microtransat Community finds it interesting, we could host the Microtransat Group in our Community. We can create a private (only approved members can join) or public (all members can join) group (https://navalapp.com/groups/) for the Microtransat and appoint one or several group admin/moderators among the Microtransat group members. The group will have its own feed where members can post comments, questions, answers, videos, files, and pictures (you can think of a Facebook Group to get the idea). Also, we can attach one or several forums to the group for structured question-answer interactions (https://navalapp.com/forums/), to which members can subscribe to receive notifications whenever a new discussion/question/answer is published. Besides, each member will have their own profile (for example, this is my own profile: https://navalapp.com/members/pablo/), and members can send private messages to each other and chat in real-time.

 

This could potentially lead to some positive outcomes for Microtransat/WRSC/IRSC, such as boosting visibility, reaching wider audiences, increasing members' engagement/participation, promoting the Microtransat/WRSC/IRSC, and attracting new members/teams/sponsors.

 

Let me know if you think this proposal could eventually bring some value and help Microtransat to move forward. Whatever the case, we will follow you wherever you go.

 

And many thanks, Colin, for all the hard work done. Really appreciate it.

 

Thanks.

 

Pablo Sopelana

pa...@navalapp.com

Navalapp

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/microtransat/CAHOymWD06Yk%2B3hK5G3Seo491WBdw1OeeR_CNJ3hYxEXuvv_Jgw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Robin Lovelock on robin@gpss.co.uk]

Hi Pablo. I was amazed at seeing who you are and details of NavalApp - especially your profile - Spanish & nice moustache :-)

I know many guys who will be interested in you for both business and hobbies like robot boats.

The majority of guys on this Microtransat Group will almost definitely object to my postings - especially this one ! :-)

I'll create a new thread, since it is important not to clutter the important subject of replacing Colin Sauze and/or this Forum.

You are welcome to continue our conversation, including with some of my sailing friends, direct by email - as soon as anyone objects ! :-)

I confess that this email is not only to contact you, but test the Microtransat Google Group - nobody knows who the members are :-)

Here are a few links:

www.gpss.co.uk - who I am and the links into many pages, including "Contact" and where I've worked.

www.gpss.co.uk/autop.htm - the Snoopy Robot Boat pages, including design and much more

www.gpss.co.uk/onwater.htm - my most expert sailing friend - Stuart Quarrie - ran Cowes Regatta for many years - Best Man etc :-)

www.gpss.co.uk/xmas22.htm - our Christmas 2022 Newsletter - important to know what friends & colleagues are doing.

www.gpss.co.uk/gpsslink.htm - my public links pages - yes these guys have been public for over 20 years - SOME still in contact.

Not all are on those links pages. e.g. Aleksey in St Petersburg has his own "Sailing Saucer" page linked off the "Snoopy" page above.

Other active friends in Scandinavia are on my "Covid19" page www.gpss.co.uk/covid19.htm

There are many more relevant pages, and important contacts, especially for business - even though I retired years ago.

Sometimes topics overlap. e,g. Charity & Technology. 

That'll do for this first email.

Now I will REALLY test the system, buy pasting in my public list of guys in Finland on that "Links" page above.

Many date from over 20 years ago. Some will have died. Most will have moved and/or changed contact details.

Almost all would have been technical guys, able to get my old GPSS or GPSSppc software running.

That's on my "Download" page - but now for those guys in Finland, after my sign off here.

Take Care

Robin

www.gpss.co.uk

Robin Lovelock, 22 Armitage Court, Sunninghill, ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9TA, UK

Landline (UK 44) 01344 620775 (Dumb) Mobile 07736 353 404.

(All unchanged and public for decades)

Now those guys in Finland ...

Faroes Arthur E Abrahamsen on aeanoroypost.olivant.fo at 621261N0063241W Norðoyri,FAROE ISLAND. BU-303.

Finland Jukka Salo ? on jukka.salolmf.ericsson at 602510N0250570E Kerava n Helsinki.
Finland Eero Auvinin on eero.auvininktm.vn.fi at 601268N0244356E Kauniainen. G45.
Finland Mika Mallassu on mmalassuratol.fi at 644000N0242830E Raahe. G12CX.
Finland Sune Sundstrom on sune.saland at 601132N0194641E Alund. G12XL.
Finland Lars Eriksson on lesonateam.aland.fi at 601185N0193482E Alund. G45XL.
Finland Kaj Lindstrom on Kaj.Lindstromnovogroup at 601027N0244125E Espoo. G12XL.
Finland Matti Kuismin on matti.kuisminfinnair at 601519N0245941E Helsinki. M320.
Finland Timo Taskinen on timo.taskineniki.fi at 612937N0233756E Pirkkala. G12.
Finland Antti Ketola on atinic.fi at 611805N0221049E Harjavalta. G2+.
Finland Antero Markkula on antero.markkulaacte.fi at 601385N0245314E Helsinki. Getrex.
Finland Jukka Aaltonen on jaaltonenlerox.fi at 610429N0280999E Lappeenranta. G3+.
Finland Pekka Juvonen on oh2bscsral.fi at 600856N0243932E Espoo. G48. Ham.
Finland Jarmo Wiren on jarmojwiren.pp.fi at 601183N0245269E Helsinki. G48.
Finland Kaartinen Ari on dmcdatamonitor.fi at 601297N0245275E Helsinki. Sanav GM-38.
Finland Toni Lahtinen on tonimeigainnovations at 600906N0245267E Helsinki. GeTrex.
Finland Kai Plaketti on kai.plakettinethawk.fi at 650249N0252811E Oulu. M315.
Finland Kalle Arola on kalleelektro-arola.fi at 605909N0241938E Turenki. Leadtek9531.
Finland Hannu Johansson on hjiki.fi at 612957N0214321E Pori. Tripmate.
Finland Kari Tompuri on kari.tompurisci.fi at 601052N0244624E Espoo. G45.
Finland Olli Haila on olli.hailasaunalahti.fi at 602045N0231756E Nummela . RndMcN.
Finland Bengt Kansanaho on bengt.kansanahokolumbus.fi at 601032N0244399E Espoo. M320.
Finland Jarmo Niskanen on jarmo.niskanenkolumbus.fi at 601064N0243954E Espoo. GPS V.
Finland Kim Sirkka on kim-stephan.sirkkaupm-kymmene at 634204N0224203E Larsmo. G12.
Finland Harri Svahn on harri.svahnaffinity.uk at 601718N0243903E Helsinki . G128.
Finland Jyri Jalas on jyri.jalaskolumbus.fi at 601715N0252165E Sibbo Söderkulla. G12XL.
Finland Jaakko Korhonen on jaakko.j.korhonennokia at 645939N0252709E Oulu. Etrex.
Finland Tapio Okkola on Tapio.OkkolaHelsinki.FI at 601045N0245714E Helsinki. G48.
Finland Mika Selänne on mika.selanneradiolinja.fi at 600969N0244349E Kirkkonummi . GM38.
Finland Sakari Kaikkonen on sakkekai at 601607N0242703E Veikkola. MagSpTrk.
Finland Petri Pietiläinen on petri.pietilainenwelho at 601393N0245761E Helsinki . Getrex.
Finland Risto Noponen on rnoponenwelho at 601131N0245643E Helsinki . Pretec CompactGPS.
Finland Heikki Kaupinmäki on heikki.kaupinmakiluukku at 650415N0252431E Oulu . MSpTrkMap.
Finland Tom Nyman on tom.nymanpp.inet.fi at 601205N0250927E Helsingfors. Getrex.
Finland Juha Naajarvi on juha.naajarvitt.tampere.fi at 612956N0235569E Tampere. Getrex.
Finland Jokela Jari on jjmobiili at 601130N0250203E Helsinki . Haicom HI-203E.
Finland Thomas Kotziadimos on th_kot at 601171N0245679E Helsinki . MMer+Benefon.
Finland Kaj Engström on kaj.engstromjippii.fi at 601310N0245375E Helsinki. MagMerCol.
Finland Petri Alhainen on petri.alhainenkauhajoki.fi at 622415N0221263E Kauhajoki Länsi Suomi. GXL12.
Finland Panu Maijala on lodjumaijala at 612728N0240589E Kangasala -. Haicom HI-204E.
Finland Kim karlsson on kim.karlssonverkkotieto.fi at 612216N0215895E Eurajoki SATAKUNTA. Getrex.
Finland Jouko Puustinen on jouko.puustinenpp.inet.fi at 605339N0263715E KOUVOLA . GM-307.
Finland Tuomas Tiihonen on tuomas.tiihonennokia at 600986N0245496E Helsinki N/A. EMTAC CRUXII/BTGPS.
Finland Kari Luoma on luoma.kariluukku at 634007N0273130E Sonkajärvi . Getrex.
Finland Risto Noponen on risto.noponenkolumbus.fi at 601156N0245646W Helsinki. Pretec+Royaltec
Finland Lassi Puurunen on plassi at 624380N0290182E Outokumpu -. RndMcN.
Finland Jarkko Vääräniemi on oh8hqloh8hql at 650371N0252977E OULU -. Jupiter.
Finland Marko Sibakov on marko.sibakovcanter.fi at 600969N0245458E Helsinki . GM-307.
Finland Karthikesh Raju on karthikjames.hut.fi at 601017N0244366E Espoo . Globalsat BC 307.
Finland Teijo Apell on teijo.apellkolumbus.fi at 603245N0250544E KELLOKOSKI . GlobalSat BT-308.
Finland Thomas Norrback on thomas.norrbackmulti.fi at 632423N0223880E Jeppo . JupiterTU30-D140.
Finland Julius Viitanen on julius.viitanenluukku at 602675N0221635E Turku . Getrex.
Finland Kari Mäki on kari.a.makikolumbus.fi at 601091N0243708E Espoo . MagMerGold.
FINLAND Hannu Nurmiranta on hnhansto.fi at 602890N0261991E TESJOKI . Getrex.
Finland Jari Juha Kalajainen on jj_kalajainen at 601117N0240190E Espoo . Getrex.
Finland Stig Eksten on stig.ekstenhypersoft at 602640N0221780E Turku . USB.
Finland Timo Eväsoja on tevasoja at 601186N0245389E Helsinki,. G5.
Finland Reijo Möttönen on remo1luukku at 624612N0225214E Seinäjoki,. haicom203e.
Finland Marko Hasanen on hasardi at 601707N0250125E Helsinki,. igps-m usb.
Finland Tuomo Vuori on TEROGDLC.FI at 621494N0254399E Jyväskylä,KESKI-SUOMI. BR-304.
Finland Pertti Heikkinen on pjhiki.fi at 601543N0245214E Vantaa,UUSIMAA. MagSpTrkPro.
Finland Jorma Valkama on jorma.valkamatietoenator at 644151N0243313E Raahe. GeTrex.
Finland Lasse Turunen on lasse.turunenpp.nic.fi at 605380N0263722E Kuusankoski,. Globalsat BU-303.
Finland Topi Jaaskelainen on topi83mbnet.fi at 632639N0293036E Nurmes. GlobalSat Bluetooth BT-308.
Finland T. Valkealan on 1siniristi at 605471N0263748E Voikkaa,KYMI. GM-307 USB.
Finland Timo Kari on timokari at 601055N0244615E Helsinki,. Getrex.
Finland Jani Lahti on jani.lahtiiki.fi at 612900N0234702E Tampere. EMTAC CRUXII/BTGPS.
Finland Dan Granqvist on dane1granqvist.info at 601208N0245797E Helsinki,NYLAND. GeTrex.
Finland Vadim Kostine on vkostinetp.spt.fi at 614181N0220083E Pori,SATAKUNTA. G-Mouse.
Finland Erkki Koskinen on e.koskinenkolumbus.fi at 602707N0242257E Vihti,UUSIMAA. iGPS-M.
Finland Tapio Laasanen on mr_magna at 621522N0252646E Jyväskylä. GS-001-001.
Finland Vesa Korhonen on wesaiaswelho at 600957N0245672E Helsinki,FINLAND. BU-303 USB.
Finland Pekka Patrikka on pekka.patrikkaluukku at 622615N0283813E Varkaus,ITA-SUOMI. Insmat InsSirf III.
Finland Marko Markkanen on mak4xx at 628831N0276291E Kuopio. GeMap.
Finland Jukka Vahvaselkä on jujunetsonic.fi at 601369N0245406E Vantaa,HELSINKI. Globat Sat BR304.
Finland Matti Sortila on zorde1sortila.fi at 600916N0245260E Helsinki,,Finland. Pretec OB-GPLXX-A.
Finland Juha Vierinen on juha.vierinenteliasonera at 601704N0245762E Helsinki,VANTAA. Fortuna Bluetooth.
Finland Janne Pauna on onlygpssknowsthisaddressteamkorhonen at 645202N0252713E Oulu. rikaline.
Finland Marco Naveri on marco.naveriluukku at 640452N0243368E Ylivieska,NONE. homemade.
Finland Esa Raasakka on esa.raasakkatekla at 601126N0244838E Espoo. rikaline gps-6033.
Finland Markku Lehtonen on tapuli1kolumbus.fi at 601668N0250197E Helsinki,. mlr sp24.
Finland Jouni Kontulainen on jounikontulainen at 493779N0060209E Helsinki. holux gpslim 236.
Finland Jussi Luukkonen on jussi.luukkonenphpoint.fi at 624385N0271102E Pieksämäki. leadtek 9534.
Finland Tuomo Kotkaniemi on t.kotkaniemisuomi24.fi at 645257N0252488E Oulu,. navibe gm621.
Finland Jukka Vahvaselkä on jujufonet.fi at 601372N0245398E Helsinki,UUSIMAA. polstar pgm-648.
Finland Rajiv Deepak on rajiv_deepak at 600970N0245275E Helsinki,N/A. G pilot iii.
Finland Matti Kurkinen on kurkinen62 at 601460N0240580E Lohja,LOHJA. navibe.
Finland Jonas Lundberg on jlundber at 600586N0195945E Mariehamn,ÅLAND. holux cf gps.
Finland Bengt Svanson on xbenkku at 601153N0245760E Helsinki,HELSINKI. Magellan GPS 320.

Greenland John Fremming on skyperskyper at 665920N0505652W Kangerlussuaq,N/A. HAiCOM HI-204III-USB.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/microtransat/PA4P194MB11176A404C781D4937BBAB1EB4F49%40PA4P194MB1117.EURP194.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.

[andy]

This is what I was warning about. Basically, competitors in Microtransat will indirectly advertise your app/group/business. But there are teams with sponsors in the similar area. For example, if I find a sponsor that's doing yacht design, how he would be willing to advertise on a non-neutral platform run by a competing business?

[Pablo Sopelana]

Ok, I understand the worries, although it is also very common that not only the teams competing but also the competition itself has sponsors. Should it be considered a non-neutral competition then? Probably yes.

 

Also, sometimes, the sponsors of the competition and the sponsors of the teams operate in similar areas, which seems a quite logical outcome to me.

 

But as said before, I understand the worries and think it is a valid point to be considered in the discussions about what is next for the Microtransat.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/microtransat/39022309-5c08-4fd2-a629-69ac2a7f69a4n%40googlegroups.com.

[Sean Fish (GTMRG)]

Happy new year all, and thank you Colin for having organized such an interesting challenge. 

I'm from a newer team hoping to launch sometime in the next couple of years. I would tend to agree with Andy in that associating the challenge directly with a business could alter the spirit of the competition. However, Pablo makes a good point that competitions themselves also often have sponsors, in addition to the teams individually. This is seen in the RoboNation competitions (RoboBoat, RoboSub, etc.) which are run by a nonprofit organization. Would it be of interest to reach out to organizations like RoboNation, MATE, or Educational Passages?

Best,
Sean

[Robin Lovelock on robin@gpss.co.uk]

Thanks Sean, and Happy New Year to all too - more on our newsletter www.gpss.co.uk/xmas22.htm

Yes, it also covers topical things like today's news from Russia & Ukraine.

BUT main purpose in this reply is to give my opinion. Yes, I agree, that Educational Passages is an excellent example

of a business with the experience, including technical. BUT I prefer an academic college or university on this side of "the pond".

At the top of my "Snoopy" page www.gpss.co.uk/autop.htm are a couple of links:

QUOTE

 See American Toy Boat lands in Wales . See Epsom College Trans-Atlantic robot boat . 

UNQUOTE

i.e. Educational Passages, then I think we all know this guy - with Royal Marines connections ;-)

Remember that Microtransat was conceived by Yves at that French Naval College

Just to bore you, I worked closely with the US Navy and UK Royal Navy in 1969-1971 

( ref "Ferranti" and www.gpss.co.uk.ferranti.htm )

Has anyone contacted the obvious colleges and universities that are near suitable bits of coast.

There are certainly a few along the English south coast, and I'm sure the Irish coast.

Some have a military connection. It's a sad fact of life that the military have pioneered technology for centuries.

BUT, the best solution for me is if Colin finds someone suitable at Aberystwyth University

to keep this google group going. Nice if members were allowed to see who the members are - an easy option ;-)

Enough waffle from me :-)

Robin Lovelock & Snoopy

www.gpss.co.uk

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/microtransat/b088ef9b-8e70-4333-a5fe-a8879be82e24n%40googlegroups.com

.

[Paul Miller]

My sincere thanks to Colin for organizing, guiding, motivating, tracking and commiserating with us as we’ve sent our little boats out on the ocean! We could not have done it without you!

 

While we can’t replace Colin, we can relieve him. I’m happy to help out on a limited basis but I’m no webmaster. I’m less worried about the organizer being in UK/Europe as much as it should be a diverse community of committee members representing the spirit of the competition. The key is someone with the commitment and know how to keep the website going!

 

All the best,

Paul

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/microtransat/299140113.2975623.1672858778735%40mail.yahoocom.

 

[colin...@gmail.com]

Thank you for all the replies

Just to pick up on a few points:

1. There's nobody else at Aberystwyth University who can take on helping to run the Microtransat. I was the last person there who was doing any work on autonomous sailing and I wasn't managing to do much since it wasn't what my day job had been for several years.

2. I agree with Andy about trying to keep it non-corporate. I can think of other competitions which have had corporate sponsors and they have ended up being centered around using (and indirectly advertising or increasing the adoption of) the sponsor's product(s). On the other hand we have had corporate supporters of the WRSC many times before and all they've asked is that we place their logo on the website, banners and event t-shirts.

3. With regards to Navalapps specifically, I wasn't envisaging moving from the Google Groups platform. We've been forced to move platform a couple of times in the past and each time caused us to lose a load of users.

4. Thanks for those of you who have made direct offers of help. I'll be in contact with you directly.

Colin.

[Yves Briere]

Dear Colin,

As an historical co-founder of the Microtransat adventure I'd like to thank you and congratulate you for everything you've done! It's an incredible journey from our first meeting in Toulouse back in 2006, which was just a pretext to meet you, Mark Neal and Roland Stelzer and compare our robots. I think in 2006 there was not many other sailing robots in the world!

Some souvenirs now:

- an audio record of a french radio covering the Iboat project (name of our robot) and announcing the transatlantic contest for 2008 :-)

- 2006 Iboat :

- early precision navigation (2006): we made it back to the shore :-)

I wish you the best,

Yves BRIERE

Professeur associé ISAE
yves....@isae-supaero.fr
Office : 07.034
tel : +33 5 61 33 84 52

https://www.isae-supaero.fr
Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace
10, avenue Edouard Belin - BP 54032
31055 Toulouse Cedex 4
France

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