Abstract:
A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race.

Description:
This application claims priority from European Patent Application No.14188458.5 filed Oct. 10, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The invention relates to a race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta. It also relates to the device implementing the method. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a regatta race, boats must not cross the start line before the start signal, otherwise they have to turn round and cross the start line again. 
     The start line may be defined by the position coordinates of two points defining a virtual line. 
     In these regatta races, the aim is not only to cross the start line first while observing the start signal, but also at a speed closest to the maximum speed of the boat. 
     In a regatta race, the competitors have a pre-start, which takes place 5 minutes before the start signal, for manoeuvring in order to cross the start line in an optimal manner. 
     There is a known assist device for crossing the start line including a means for creating a virtual start line, a means for instantaneously knowing the position of the boat with respect to the virtual line, a means for knowing the instantaneous speed of the boat and calculation means for indicating distance with respect to the virtual start line and the time remaining until the start signal. 
     Using this knowledge of the remaining distance and remaining time, the boat must adjust its speed to cross the line, which leaves the skipper of the boat many choices and therefore uncertainties. 
     If the skipper has to manoeuvre the boat to adjust to this information, this will affect the start. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a product and its method of operation which offers a simpler and more reliable way of managing the start of a regatta while remaining intuitive. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race with a duration T before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race, the method being characterized in that:
         in a second step, prior to the race, at least one race start is simulated by performing a pre-race test, to measure and store, at least once, a parameter that is the maximum speed or test speed of the boat, to deduce therefrom a maximum distance that could be travelled during the pre-race duration if the boat moved at said test speed and thereby to determine the position of a line called the maximum distance line; and   in a third step, after positioning the boat between the maximum distance line and the start line, a countdown period is started during which, on the one hand, the distance line moves towards the start line at the test speed while the boat also moves towards the race line at a lower speed than the maximum test speed and during which, on the other hand, the actual motion parameters of the boat are compared to the movement of the distance line to provide indications on the closeness of the distance line to the boat to enable the boat to adjust its speed and/or route so that when the distance line catches up with the boat, said boat is moving at the same speed as said distance line.       

     In a first advantageous embodiment, during the second step, the maximum speed is stored several times, and the maximum speed of the distance line is the mean of the stored maximum speeds. 
     In a second advantageous embodiment, the indications as to how to proceed are in digital form or in visual form. 
     The invention relates to a race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta, including a calculator, a satellite positioning means, a storage means, a means for entering information relating to a start line position in the calculator and/or the storage means, 
     this device being characterized in that it includes means for pre-determining a maximum test speed, means for calculating a separation distance corresponding to the calculated maximum speed multiplied by a time corresponding to the duration of a pre-race, means for simulating the movement of a distance line at the test speed, means for comparing the speed and the position of the boat with respect to the movement of the distance line, means for providing indications as to the difference in speed and/or the distance between the boat and the distance line and display means. 
     In a first advantageous embodiment, the device includes means for calculating the evolution of the speed of the boat so that its motion coincides with an optimised motion with respect to the start line to be crossed. 
     In a second advantageous embodiment, the device is integrated in a portable object, such as a mobile telephone or a tablet. 
     In a third advantageous embodiment, the device is integrated in a watch. 
     In a fourth advantageous embodiment, the display means are digital or visual. 
     In another advantageous embodiment, the display means include at least one hand moving with respect to a scale mark. 
     In another advantageous embodiment, the display means include indicator lights having a first colour, one indicator light having a second colour and indicator lights having a third colour, so that the indicator lights having a first colour are illuminated in the event of a lag position, the indicator lights having a third colour are illuminated in the event of an ahead position and the indicator light having a second colour is illuminated in the event of an optimum position. 
     In another advantageous embodiment, the watch crystal is touch-sensitive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a view of a body of water showing the start line and the boat. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an assistance device for regattas. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show views of a body of water showing the distance line at its maximum distance from the start line. 
         FIG. 4  shows a view of the body of water of  FIG. 1 , with the countdown started. 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of the body of water of  FIG. 1 , with the boat moving at the same speed as the distance line. 
         FIG. 6  shows a view of a watch fitted with the assistance device. 
         FIG. 7  shows a view of a variant embodiment of a watch fitted with the assistance device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the various Figures, a body of water for a boat regatta is illustrated. 
       FIG. 1  shows the start line  2 , which can be determined from two geographical points A, B whose coordinates are, for example, data provided by geostationary satellites. A boat  1 , which has to cross start line  2 , is also illustrated. 
     The start of a regatta is an important moment. Indeed, the boats must cross the start line after the start signal and at the highest speed, because if the start line is crossed before the start signal, the competitor must turn round and then cross the line again in the right direction. 
     Further, if, to avoid crossing the line too soon, the competitor very suddenly drops his speed, he will require time to pick up speed again and will make a poor start. 
     A portable apparatus  100 , using a race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta, is therefore used. 
     Portable apparatus  100 , visible in  FIG. 2 , will include a calculator  10  for the overall control of the portable apparatus. Portable apparatus  100  further includes a satellite positioning means  11 , a storage means  12  for data storage and a means  13  for entering information relating to a start line position in the calculator and/or the memory. This means  13  may be one or more buttons or touch-sensitive means. 
     These means will be supplemented by means  14  or pre-determining a maximum test speed associating, for example, a time base and the positioning device to determine a speed. However, it is also possible for the speed to be obtained from an external apparatus. 
     Calculator  10  which could be a microprocessor or microcontroller, will include means  10 A for calculating a separation distance corresponding to the calculated maximum speed multiplied by a time T corresponding to the duration of a pre-race, means  15  for simulating the movement of a distance line at the test speed Vm, means  16  for comparing the speed and the position of the boat relative to the movement of distance line L and means  17  for providing indications as to the difference in speed and/or the distance between the boat and the distance line. 
     It also includes means for calculating the evolution of the speed of the boat so that its motion coincides with an optimised motion relative to the start line to be crossed, and display means  19 . 
     During a first step visible in  FIG. 1 , the geographical points forming the start line are stored in said object. These geographical points can be entered manually or downloaded or stored by positioning oneself on a point on the start line using a GPS device and then pressing a button of the portable object to store the position. The operation is repeated to obtain the second point in order to delineate the start line. 
     This method then includes a second step or preparatory step having a duration T. 
     During this second step, which is shown in  FIG. 3A , at least one race start is simulated in order to measure and store at least once a parameter which is the maximum speed Vm or “test speed” of the boat via speed determining means  14 . This simulation takes the form of a pre-race test in real conditions. This speed information is used by means  10 A to calculate a maximum separation distance D which could be travelled during pre-race duration T if the boat moved at said test speed, and thereby determine the position of a maximum distance line L. This distance D is stored by calculator  10  via storage means  12 . The latter may be a flash memory. 
     In a third step or race start step, boat  1  is positioned between maximum distance line L and start line  2 . A countdown with a duration T is then started. 
     During this countdown, the calculator moves distance line L towards the start line at test speed Vm as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     Using the calculator, the position and/or actual motion parameters of boat  1  are then compared to the movement of distance line L. In fact, the boat may be stationary or moving slightly. 
     This calculator  10  thus provides indications on the closeness of distance line L to boat  1  to enable boat  1  to adjust its speed V and/or its route. This makes it possible, when the distance line catches up with boat  1 , for said boat  1  to move at the same speed as that of said distance line. 
     Consequently, gradually over time, boat  1  will accelerate and distance line L will move closer to the boat. The difference in speeds will be limited, as will the distance between the distance line and boat  1 . Parameters can therefore be calculated to allow the speed and/or the route of boat  1  to evolve so that its motion coincides with the movement of distance line L, obviously before crossing the start line  2 . 
     It will be understood that the various measurements, such as that of the distance between boat  1  and start line  2 , take into account the relative position of the boat. Indeed, depending on the wind direction, boat  1  may not always sail in a straight line. 
     This fact implies the existence of an actual distance and a relative distance. The actual distance d 1  is the shortest distance between boat  1  and start line  2 , whereas the relative distance d 2  is the distance between boat  1  and start line  2  taking into account the direction of the boat. Actual distance d 1  passes through a line perpendicular to start line  2 . Relative distance d 2  is calculated by determining the angle α between the line perpendicular to start line  2  which is actual distance d 1  and the straight line formed by the direction of the boat as seen in  FIG. 3B , d 2 =d 1 /cos α. 
     Consequently, calculator  10  is capable, depending on the position and direction of boat  1 , of determining actual distance dl and relative distance d 2 . It will be understood that, for the start of a regatta, actual distance dl is the important distance, because boat  1  is capable of tacking, so the relative distance is unstable since it varies with angle α whereas the actual distance remains stable. The object is for the speed and the position of boat  1  to be such that the end of its travel during the pre-race coincides, as regards both the distance from start line  2  and speed, with the movement of distance line L which represents the optimised crossing of start line  2 . 
     To achieve this, the device provides boat  1  with information, for example, the difference in speeds, the distance between distance line L and the position of boat  1  and predicted speed change instructions. 
     This information is provided by information means  20  and display means  19 . Information means  20  may either take a digital form, i.e. numbers, or the form of visual indications, such as indicator lights  21  or hands  22  moving with respect to a scale mark. 
     Preferably, the information is presented in the form of visual indications. Indeed, these visual indications are easier to understand given that the boat driver has other tasks to attend to. For example, indicator lights may gradually be illuminated or colours may be used. 
     Where colours are used, one example may include a plurality of indicator lights in the form of segments. These indicator lights may be of different colours, the colours being associated with a particular piece of information. 
     In an example of the invention shown in  FIG. 6 , the portable object is provided with  11  indicator lights. In detail, there will be  5  indicator lights having a first colour  21   a , one indicator light having a second colour  21   b  and  5  indicator lights having a third colour  21   c.    
     When the countdown is started, the  5  indicator lights having a first colour  21   a  are illuminated. The first colour may be red. When distance line L moves closer, some indicator lights will go out, so that the closer distance line L becomes, the lower will be the number of illuminated indicator lights  21   a . At that moment, boat  1  accelerates. 
     When distance line L is level with boat  1  and the speed of distance line L is close to the speed of boat  1 , the indicator light having a second colour  21  will light up. The second colour may be green. This means that boat  1  is in an optimum phase, i.e. it is at the right distance and right speed to cross start line  2  in an optimal manner. 
     If the indicator lights having a third colour  21   c  start to light up, this means that the boat is ahead of distance line L and that it must slow down. The third colour may be orange. 
     Thus, by means of a left-right apportionment it is possible to indicate whether boat  1  is ahead, in line with or behind its motion curve according to the illuminated colour. The skipper is capable of knowing whether he is ahead of (orange), behind (red) or within the required timing (green). 
     This also makes it possible to indicate whether the boat is significantly ahead or behind by means of the number of illuminated indicator lights  21 . 
     Of course, it is possible to envisage the indicator lights taking the form of three bars each of a different colour. The bars indicating whether the boat is ahead or behind are then formed by a plurality of areas so that the further ahead or behind the boat is, the greater will be the number of illuminated areas. 
     These means are contained in a cover of a portable object, such as a telephone, a tablet or a watch case. 
     The speed of motion of boat  1  can be obtained by GPS type satellite positioning. Pressing on a watch button or on the telephone keyboard also makes it possible to store the maximum speed. It is also possible to obtain this speed using an external sensor. 
     The device may therefore, as shown in  FIG. 7 , include a dial comprising a hand  22 A which, in the 12 o′clock position indicates that the difference between the instantaneous speed and the distance line speed is equal to zero. If the hand moves towards the right on a scale  22 B, this could mean that the instantaneous speed is greater than the distance line speed and therefore it is necessary to slow down, and if the hand moves towards the left that the instantaneous speed is insufficient. The amplitude of angular motion gives an idea of the significance of the difference, it is also possible to place the hand facing an explicit pictogram representing, for example, a − sign or a + sign. 
     A second hand  22 C may, like the preceding hand, indicate the distance that separates the distance line from the boat on a scale  22 D. 
     Instead of hands, there may be pie-shaped segments. 
     Given that the simulation occurs before the race, weather conditions can be taken into account by calculating the mean of various tests. This mean could be affected by a corrective measure depending on the wind speed measured at the time of the race. The maximum speed of the distance line may be the mean of several simulations. 
     It will be clear that various alterations and/or improvements and/or combinations evident to those skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the invention set out above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the annexed claims. 
     Storage means  12  could be a rewritable semiconductor mass memory utilising NOR or NAND technology. 
     Further, the present invention should not be limited to a portable product such as a telephone, a tablet or a watch case, but could also be a bracelet or a laptop computer.