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Model boat Snoopy Sloop on unmanned Atlantic crossing challenge | Model boat Snoopy Sloop on unmanned Atlantic crossing challenge |
(about 1 month later) | |
A retired Nato scientist has launched what he hopes will be the first unmanned boat to cross the Atlantic. | A retired Nato scientist has launched what he hopes will be the first unmanned boat to cross the Atlantic. |
Robin Lovelock's 4ft (1.2m) boat, Snoopy Sloop set sail from the Hampshire coast. | |
A Global Positioning System (GPS) computer is designed to pilot the boat for the 5,000 miles (8,000km), but he admitted it would be a "real struggle". | A Global Positioning System (GPS) computer is designed to pilot the boat for the 5,000 miles (8,000km), but he admitted it would be a "real struggle". |
It is thought no unmanned boat has ever crossed the Atlantic. Recent tries hit weather and technical problems. | It is thought no unmanned boat has ever crossed the Atlantic. Recent tries hit weather and technical problems. |
Mr Lovelock has developed the £450 boat on Bray Lake near his home in Sunninghill, Berkshire, over the past four years. | Mr Lovelock has developed the £450 boat on Bray Lake near his home in Sunninghill, Berkshire, over the past four years. |
He is making the attempt as part of the Microtransat Challenge to become the first unmanned vessel to cross the Atlantic Ocean from a point to the south of Ireland. | He is making the attempt as part of the Microtransat Challenge to become the first unmanned vessel to cross the Atlantic Ocean from a point to the south of Ireland. |
A tracking device on board the solar-powered boat allows internet users to track its progress on its pre-programmed journey from Barton-on-Sea to the Bahamas on his website. | A tracking device on board the solar-powered boat allows internet users to track its progress on its pre-programmed journey from Barton-on-Sea to the Bahamas on his website. |
Travelling at 3mph, it would take about six months to complete the trip. | Travelling at 3mph, it would take about six months to complete the trip. |
He said: "We'll just throw it into the water and see if we're lucky. | He said: "We'll just throw it into the water and see if we're lucky. |
"I'm kissing bye-bye to a lot of hard work - let's hope it doesn't all end in tears. | "I'm kissing bye-bye to a lot of hard work - let's hope it doesn't all end in tears. |
"The chances of something hitting it are pretty remote - it should just get brushed aside." | "The chances of something hitting it are pretty remote - it should just get brushed aside." |
Alongside the home-built technology on the boat is a model of cartoon dog Snoopy at the bow, which Mr Lovelock said showed he was not taking the project "too seriously". | Alongside the home-built technology on the boat is a model of cartoon dog Snoopy at the bow, which Mr Lovelock said showed he was not taking the project "too seriously". |
"If it doesn't work I've got plenty of other boats and bits of boats sitting around the house," he said. | "If it doesn't work I've got plenty of other boats and bits of boats sitting around the house," he said. |
Since 2010, two French boats have foundered in bad weather and a University of Aberystwyth vessel suffered technical failure. | Since 2010, two French boats have foundered in bad weather and a University of Aberystwyth vessel suffered technical failure. |
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