Originally developed for offshore racing, the UpSideUp solution is now widely used in yachting and luxury yachting. The most well-known, but also the most spectacular, function of the system is the anti-roll-over safety. This is the historical function of UpSideUp developed for the Route du Rhum 2006 for Alain Gautier. Since then, this system has only improved and has seen many new features and associated devices added.
It has become an unparalleled global solution for surveillance, control and monitoring, and automation of actions related to crew and boat safety. We could say that it is becoming essential on certain projects such as family travel on a catamaran.
UpSideUp available in 3 versions:
- Easy version . This is the basic package that does not require a computer to set it up. It comes ready to be assembled and can activate 3 actuators. It is the ideal product for multihulls from 28 to 50 feet. A particularly simple system to install and use.
- Master Version . This is the version found on all ocean racing multihulls and boats from 40 to 65 feet. It can be fully configured from the Control Center software on the on-board PC. This is designed to supervise the entire system and perform real-time load control, for example. The number of sensors or actuators is not limited. All standard UpSideUp functions can be activated or not depending on the boat's program and specificities, and the allocated budget.
- Superyacht version . This is the most open version. In addition to all the functions of the Master version, it allows you to develop custom applications. For example, you can imagine controlling the hydraulics on board or the tanks... The box also allows for flush mounting to be harmoniously integrated into the control panels of the boats.
Anti capsizing function
This is one of the main functions. The unit is equipped with an integrated attitude sensor (or an external inertial unit) that measures the boat's movements. Depending on the preset settings, it will activate alarms and then control actuators that can then act on the sails. The actuators can be cleats and snap hooks that release the sheets, but also actions on the hydraulic system or on reversible electric winches.
Some sheet release actuators associated with UpSideUp:
- BCam : Pneumatic release cleat
- TEPSS: Carabiner with pneumatic release and load measurement
- ECB : Textile blocker with pneumatic release and load measurement
UpSideUp also offers automatic heel regulation (and rigging forces) by acting on the autopilot, in a non-intrusive way for the crew.
Function to control the forces on the rigging.
UpSideUp measures loads using suitable sensors on the shrouds and sheets and possibly the mast foot, and offers complete supervision of the rigging: monitoring, alarms, data recording, automatic discharge of the sheets, action on the autopilot to unload the boat
A load rate makes it easy to quantify how the boat is operated in relation to the predefined thresholds.
Some load sensors associated with UpSideUp
In addition to the TEPSS and ECB actuators with load measurement option
- IlSense: In-line sensor used on textile cables with lashing attachment
- Mast foot half-sphere equipped with strain gauges
- Loadlink TenSeazy
- Instrumented axes for ha ubans
Management of critical situations
By being connected to all the instruments on board (anemometer, depth sounder, AIS...), the UpSideUp unit can alert the crew of abnormal situations: oversold, risk of collision, shoal approach, flooding by water. The reactions that follow can range from a simple audible alarm that will alert the crew, to a course alteration or emergency stop of the boat by acting on the autopilot.
Man Overboard Management
The UpSideUp power plant is undoubtedly the most complete power plant on the market for the man overboard function. Indeed, it can receive alerts from all possible MOB sources: AIS MOB beacons, radio, button or wireless remote control. There are also many actions. It is thus possible to automatically drop an individual life raft (Jon buoy type), but it is also possible to access the MOB interface on the dedicated application, with the tracking of MOB targets (even several targets), trigger an alarm, drop the sails, emergency stop of the boat, alert signal...
This unparalleled function effectively complements the various systems on the market related to the Man Overboard issue to give maximum chances of recovery. It is also available as an independent function of UpSideUp with the "MOB Control" solution
And much more...
UpSideUp also offers many other features such as :
- detection of water ingress,
- The recording of data for accident investigation, vessel usage history, performance and behaviour of the vessel,...
- The control of appendages, deck lights,
- And other services more dedicated to advanced projects.
The solution also allows to easily deploy specific functionalities adapted to each project with a controlled budget.
An UpSideUp solution can be very easy to implement and use. It will also be able to offer a wide range of services with a more advanced configuration.
For whom and how much?
Even if the customers are more multihull users, the UpSideUp central unit can also be used by monohull owners (to manage a too strong list for example). Today almost all the offshore racing multihulls (Multi 50, Ultim...) use the product. But it is also widely used on cruising and sailing yachts. The smallest one currently equipped is a Dragonfly 28 trimaran, the largest being 40m catamarans. As for the price, it is necessary to count from 3500 euros for a departure kit - a reasonable price since it can save the boat! - and the budget of a 60-foot catamaran is about 12,000 euros (a budget that can vary greatly depending on the options and functions chosen).
