Satellite technology will enable vital ship-to-shore communication for 2015 RiskSA Regatta winner
Vehicle tracking solutions provider Ctrack, part of Inseego Corp., is providing Raymarine Regardless with essential satellite communications for the Cape2Rio Yacht Race which starts on 1 Jan 2017 from Cape Town. The technology will enable the team, who steered Ctrack to victory in the 2015 RiskSA Regatta, to stay connected to their families, friends and supporters on shore throughout the race. In addition, the equipment provides critical backup communications in case of an emergency.
Considered to be the longest continent-to-continent yacht race in the southern hemisphere, the Cape 2 Rio race has been attracting seafarers and ocean-lovers from across the globe since its inception in 1971. It is a fascinating and tactical race that spans 3,500 nautical miles, demanding both seamanship and weather savvy skills. Raymarine Regardless is expected to finish the race in around 20 days.
As the official communications partner of Raymarine Regardless, Ctrack has ensured that the yacht, an optimised Simonis 35 cruiser/racer, is fitted with the vital communication technology necessary for such a journey.
Raymarine Regardless’ owner and skipper William Brooks and his crew are mostly made up of first-time Cape 2 Rio race participants, who consider themselves offshore racing amateurs.
“We are in it for the fun, really – and the experience,” he says. “But even so, communication forms a very vital and serious part of any such undertaking. It not only enhances the safety aspect, but allows us to make use of weather-routing and, of course, enables us to be in constant contact with those on dry land.”
Sailing with Brooks are crew members David Gough, Anthony Cassar, Daniel Frieslaar and Shane Hendrickse. “The great thing about Cape2Rio is that it allows for sailors of all experience levels to compete due to a handicapping system. The overall winner is not necessarily the first yacht to cross the finish line in Rio, but the first yacht on corrected time. This gives smaller yachts – like ours – a chance at doing well in the race,” Brooks says.
All the competing yachts are fitted with tracking devices that link up to a downloadable app available through the Cape 2 Rio website. This will track their positions and identify their locations as they navigate through their transatlantic voyage.
“As a keen supporter of ocean yacht racing, Ctrack is proud to sponsor this team. Our contribution makes it possible for them to be always connected and visible to their supporters on shore,” adds Ctrack’s MD, Pierre Bruwer.
