A holding apparatus is provided by way of which a hydrofoil surface apparatus can be retracted and extended and/or folded, out of a rest and/or starting position into its operating position and/or out of the operating position into the rest and/or starting position. Such actuation can take place manually by way of a person operating the water sports device, with the advantage of simpler transportability of the water sports device. The water sports device can already be placed in water close to the bank or beach, and can be guided or moved from there in the direction of deeper water. As soon as sufficiently deep water is reached, the hydrofoil surface apparatus can be transferred via the holding apparatus into the operating position.

A small watercraft system includes: a watercraft body; a watercraft body manipulation member through which a watercraft body manipulation command is input by an operator; a drive source that allows the watercraft body to plane; a steering device that allows the watercraft body to be steered; and a control device that controls the drive source and the steering device to operate the watercraft body. The control device determines whether a mode switching condition is satisfied, the mode switching condition including an operator's absence condition that the operator is absent from the watercraft body. Upon determining that the mode switching condition is satisfied, the control device executes an operator-absent manipulation mode in which the control device moves the watercraft body by controlling the drive source and the steering device based on an operator-absent manipulation command independent of the watercraft body manipulation command.

A small watercraft system includes: a watercraft body; a watercraft body manipulation member through which a watercraft body manipulation command is input by an operator; a drive source that allows the watercraft body to plane; a steering device that allows the watercraft body to be steered; and a control device that controls the drive source and the steering device to operate the watercraft body. The control device determines whether a mode switching condition is satisfied, the mode switching condition including an operator's absence condition that the operator is absent from the watercraft body. Upon determining that the mode switching condition is satisfied, the control device executes an operator-absent manipulation mode in which the control device moves the watercraft body by controlling the drive source and the steering device based on an operator-absent manipulation command independent of the watercraft body manipulation command.

A ship assistance device including a storage medium storing a computer-readable command and a processor connected to the storage medium, the processor executing the computer-readable command to: calculate a pitching amount of a ship body based on a plurality of images photographed by a camera mounted on the ship body; estimate a pitching cycle of the ship body at least based on the calculated pitching amount; predict pitching of the ship body based on the estimated pitching cycle; and control a throttle of the ship body so as to reduce the predicted pitching of the ship body.

A marine vessel control system operable to be used with a shallow water anchor and a motor. The marine vessel control system comprising a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a user command to maintain a position of a marine vessel, receive sonar data, determine a water depth relative to a water bottom based on the sonar data in response to receiving the user command, and transmit a command to use the shallow water anchor and/or the motor based on the water depth.

A marine vessel control system operable to be used with a shallow water anchor and a motor. The marine vessel control system comprising a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a user command to maintain a position of a marine vessel, receive sonar data, determine a water depth relative to a water bottom based on the sonar data in response to receiving the user command, and transmit a command to use the shallow water anchor and/or the motor based on the water depth.

There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.

There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.

A tidal information display device for a movable body includes a position measurement module configured to detect a position of the movable body, a geographical information selection module configured to determine geographic information to be displayed on a display screen based on the detected position, a tidal information module configured to receive and store tidal information based on the detected position, and a tidal information display module configured to generate display data for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) at a predetermined position on the display screen. The GUI is configured for showing the tidal information including at least one of: a present height of a tide, a high tide time, a low tide time, and a position of the tide.

A tidal information display device for a movable body includes a position measurement module configured to detect a position of the movable body, a geographical information selection module configured to determine geographic information to be displayed on a display screen based on the detected position, a tidal information module configured to receive and store tidal information based on the detected position, and a tidal information display module configured to generate display data for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) at a predetermined position on the display screen. The GUI is configured for showing the tidal information including at least one of: a present height of a tide, a high tide time, a low tide time, and a position of the tide.