
How Technology Has Changed Starts Forever — with Todd Wilson
From Sailfaster: The Podcast For Racing Sailors by Pete Boland
May 20, 2026 · 28 min · Season 2 · Episode 65
About this episode
This episode discusses how GPS-based starting systems are transforming sailboat racing with insights from Todd Wilson of Vakaros.
GPS-based starting systems are changing sailboat racing — whether sailors like it or not. In this episode, Pete Boland talks to Todd Wilson, co-founder of Vakaros, about how RaceSense and modern GPS technology are transforming starts, protests, race management, and training. (Note this is NOT a sponsored episode!) Todd explains why even elite sailors struggle to ping a line accurately, how RaceSense works, why starts are becoming tighter and more aggressive, how Olympic, J/70, and TP52 fleets are adapting.. and why he was “happy to lose a protest” using his own system’s data It’s a fascinating look at the technology reshaping competitive sailing — from club racing to the Olympic level.
People in this episode
Host: Pete Boland
Guest: Todd Wilson
Topics covered
- sailboat racing
- GPS technology
- race management
- training
- protests
- competitive sailing
Keywords
- sailboat racing
- GPS
- RaceSense
- Todd Wilson
- protests
- training
- Olympic sailing
- J/70
- TP52
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Vakaros
Products: RaceSense, J/70, TP52
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