Robot yacht goes missing in Atlantic

By Robin Turner

A robot yacht, which was aiming to be the first unmanned yacht to cross the Atlantic, has disappeared.

The three-metre long yacht Pinta designed by students and scientists at Aberystwyth University set off from Ireland on September 14.

But it has now emerged Pinta, which cost £2,500 to build, has been missing somewhere in the Atlantic for the past two weeks.

Dr Mark Neal, one of the challenge’s founders, admitted: “The boat has disappeared without trace. We tracked it up until two weeks ago but then it suddenly disappeared.”

Dr Neal made it clear that even before the voyage he did not expect the yacht to complete the crossing.

He said: “At this point it could well turn out to be the world’s first robotic sailing boat shipwreck.

“I didn’t think Pinta would succeed because there are some horrible weather conditions out there. There are 35 to 40 knot winds and the remnants of a hurricane.”

He believes the yacht has probably capsized.

Powered by small solar panels, the boat was programmed to sail the race course and was propelled simply by the wind.

The aim of the voyage was to build a robot that could survive for a long time in very hostile environments.

Despite Pinta’s failure, Aberystwyth University believes it now holds the record for the longest distance and longest period of autonomous robotic sailing. The Microtransat Challenge was conceived by academics in Aberystwyth and Toulouse, France, and Aberystwyth was the only team taking part this year.

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