OSCAR One 320

A decade ago the prospect of a device that, on a dark night, could detect a floating obstacle such as a shipping container or a sleeping whale in the path of a yacht, and automatically change course, would have firmly belonged in the realms of science fiction.

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What is it? Automated monitoring system for identification of dangerous floating objects in the path of a vessel

Who’s it for? Serious bluewater cruising and offshore racing yachts

Yet Boris Herrmann’s IMOCA 60 Seaexplorer – Yacht Club de Monaco is equipped with just such a system for the Vendée Globe. What’s more the core technology is now available for cruising yachts. Granted, we can’t yet buy one that will interface with the autopilot of our own boat, but it will still display the position of the floating danger on screen in real time and sound an alarm, allowing a watchkeeper to change course.

This technology is the brainchild of Raphael Biancale, a Franco-German engineer with an automotive background. His first taste of offshore sailing at night was as navigator on a yacht his father had recently bought. As an outsider he was astounded by our universal acceptance of sailing along with blind faith that we won’t hit any unlit or uncharted objects. Despite the obvious challenges, he therefore set about engineering a solution.

Biancale is no longer an outsider in the marine world – his Breton company BSB Marine now employs some 20 engineers who have worked with some of the biggest names in the offshore racing world, including Jean Le Cam, Kevin Escoffier, François Gabart and Armel Le Cléac’h to develop the technology.