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Unmanned boat Snoopy Sloop crashes in Atlantic bid | Unmanned boat Snoopy Sloop crashes in Atlantic bid |
(about 1 month later) | |
An unmanned boat has crashed into rocks off the Isle of Wight hours after it was launched in a bid to cross the Atlantic Ocean. | An unmanned boat has crashed into rocks off the Isle of Wight hours after it was launched in a bid to cross the Atlantic Ocean. |
Retired Nato scientist Robin Lovelock's 4ft (1.2m) boat Snoopy Sloop set sail from the Hampshire coast on Tuesday. | |
But its tracking system placed it on land near The Needles at 18:45 GMT. | But its tracking system placed it on land near The Needles at 18:45 GMT. |
Mr Lovelock blamed a strong tide for pushing the boat eastwards and hoped, if it was undamaged, it could restart its quest to reach the Bahamas. | Mr Lovelock blamed a strong tide for pushing the boat eastwards and hoped, if it was undamaged, it could restart its quest to reach the Bahamas. |
He wrote on his website: "Snoopy is wrecked near The Needles. We have an off shore north wind now bashing him against rocks." | He wrote on his website: "Snoopy is wrecked near The Needles. We have an off shore north wind now bashing him against rocks." |
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. |
'Very unlucky' | 'Very unlucky' |
A Global Positioning System (GPS) computer was designed to pilot the boat for the 5,000 miles (8,000km). | A Global Positioning System (GPS) computer was designed to pilot the boat for the 5,000 miles (8,000km). |
He urged members of the public not to put themselves in danger by trying to rescue the craft. | He urged members of the public not to put themselves in danger by trying to rescue the craft. |
"Depending on damage, he can either be relaunched... or be fixed to sail again soon," he added. | "Depending on damage, he can either be relaunched... or be fixed to sail again soon," he added. |
"However, this seems increasingly unlikely. The good news is that he worked well - and he was very unlucky. | "However, this seems increasingly unlikely. The good news is that he worked well - and he was very unlucky. |
"A launch an hour earlier, or from a few hundred yards further west, and he might have made it past The Needles." | "A launch an hour earlier, or from a few hundred yards further west, and he might have made it past The Needles." |
It is thought no unmanned boat has ever crossed the Atlantic. Recent attempts hit weather and technical problems. | It is thought no unmanned boat has ever crossed the Atlantic. Recent attempts hit weather and technical problems. |
Travelling at 3mph, it would take Snoopy Sloop about six months to complete the trip. | Travelling at 3mph, it would take Snoopy Sloop about six months to complete the trip. |
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". |
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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