Today Wednesday 4-5-2022 I headed to Waihi to Launch the donated J Class fitted with my Mark One Voice Steering system.

I arrived 12'oclock at Lake Gilmour, Waihi, and the team were all rigging their J Class model yachts .

A quick "Hi" to everyone, then I fired up my new transmitter fitted with the voice module, microcontroller and throat voice microphone.

Everything fired up ok at the truck. I launched the yacht and then the gremlins appeared. Not sure why at the time? External Noises Maybe?

So grabbed a towel out of the van and wrapped my neck, but it did not help. Removed my face mask maybe muffled, still did not help :(

I tried to speak clearer and things started working 90% of the first attempt of word. I guess I was excited and my voice frequency and pitch had probably changed out at the lake, and until my voice was sounding like the pre-recorded words that worked 99% of the time in my garage sitting at home in perfect condtions.

I am currently only allowed to use seven voice inputs;

In - Sails Fully in. (Position 0);

Out - Sails Fully out (Position 6);

On or Off - Sails in or out one ;

Left, Right, Center. (-3 to 0 to 3)

I sailed around for a hour. My brained needs a lot more training. I was only getting the Left or Right correct 75% of the time. Some more practice required to get it right all the time, but I am sure it would become natural and fast with a few more practice sessions..

After Lunch I switched the transmitter to normal stick steering, and spent the afternoon chasing the boys around the lake until 3.30pm.

So in conclusion after only one, one hour sailing session. Voice steering works and is great for a blast around the Lake. However its good enough for racing yet.. But with allot more system improving of the concept, and a lot more practice it should be possible to race under voice only.

So my next step;

  • Look at improving the Voice Recognition Card to work with a wider range of voices, commands and conditions.

  • Program Exponential rudder steering to the "J Class" Start small 1, Medium 2, Full lock 3. (winch programmed Exponential)

  • Move Screen Curser Position to the front side of the transmitter and follow stick positions too.

  • Find a faster J Class hull shell to put under the current rigging and set up (or new total J Class boat if there is one out there ????)