eISR 2024
The grand slalom of human-powered submarine racing
Gosport, UK, 24 June – 5 July 2024
Congratulations to the winners of the eISR 2024: Omer ÉTS with Omer 13!
Full results of the eISR 2024 here.
Welcome!
Welcome to the European International Submarine Races, where teams of university students are challenged to design, build and race human-powered submarines against the clock on an out-and-back grand slalom course. The concept combines engineering design challenge with technical skill development and sets them in a unique and exciting sporting competition.
Design Rules
The teams’ vessels are submarines in every sense of the word, except for the watertight bit. Here are the rules they must design and compete by.
A day at the races
Some of the action at an earlier edition of the eISR.
The venue
The race takes place in QinetiQ’s Ocean Basin at Haslar, Europe’s largest freshwater tank – a concrete floored football field 6m underwater.
The Subraces
The races are held at 6m depth at QinetiQ’s Ocean Basin facility at Haslar – Europe’s largest freshwater tank. The 200m eISR racecourse begins with an initial sprint through two timing gates, followed by a 180° turn and a slalom, which gets progressively more difficult as the competition progresses. Missing, hitting or dragging marker poles is penalised, as is breaching the surface of the water.
The Teams
It takes a dedicated team of engineers, athletes, logisticians and sponsors to field a racing submarine. Come meet the students who are readying their underwater steeds for the real-world challenge of launch, race, repair and upgrade which is the eISR.
Past Races
The eISR turns 12 in 2024. There have been some spectacular teams and machines over the years. Speed demons and innovative designs have taken up the challenge. Some have done well, even set a world record, while others have, well, brought up the rear. Here are their stories.
STEM Initatives
From British Columbia in the northwest to New Zealand in the southeast, student submarine engineers and athletes are united by a drive for excellence and a passion for the underwater world. The eISR is proud to support their inspiration of the next generation of ocean ambassadors.
