I am somewhat familiar with the R/C car-truck world.
Like the AMBIT system for race timing (transponders, etc)

How would this be done on the water ??
Not about to string a wire across the water.
Maybe GPS ?

Can anyone give this boat newbie some leads ?
Companies that make the stuff, etc ?


Thanks,
Mark

I know the folks of the APRCRA are using a system that is GPS based. You could maybe find some more information from them. Here is their website.

APRCRA

EDIT: I thought the APRCRA were using a GPS system...seems I was wrong sorry.

Our district is testing an Australian system that is very simple and eliminates the need for separate judges for each boat. The pitman pushes a button each time his driver completes a lap. The computer calls out the boat's ID number and what lap he just completed. The CD can input penalty laps. At the end the computer lists the places and times for each finisher. You need to trust that the pitmen will be honest, but it easily untangles complicated situations where the lead boats get penaltys and the CD doesn't know the places of the boats that were further back. Despite the Australian accent in the countdown, it has been a perfect, simple answer to a lot of racing problems.

Lohring Miller

That is exactly what we do in Europe, two lines over the water connected to the computer. One caller and checker to see that laps are recorded. We get all the information you would ever need, automatic race timing, laps, fastest lap etc.
For the offshore races (flying starts) you even get false starts recorded.
Picture from the Naviga World Championships in Norway last year..
www.rcboat2006.com/images/comp...s/IMG_2266.html