Hold the line
Inmarsat is once again confirmed as the official satellite communications for this year's The Ocean Race Europe and The Ocean Race 2022–2023.
12 May 2021
Advertisement
In an exclusive agreement, Inmarsat will be the official satellite communications partner of The Ocean Race for the sixth consecutive time.
First partnering in 2001, this latest deal between the two bodies will see Inmarsat become only sat comms used in this year’s inaugural The Ocean Europe and The Ocean Race 2022–2023.
Inmarsat’s L-Band network will be used to provide connectivity, safety and tracking services for the IMOCA 60s and one-design VO65 race yachts while Inmarsat’s solutions will drive both race’s digital content delivery with live drone footage.
Teams for both events will also be provided Inmarsat’s airtime services, IsatPhone 2 satellite phones, FleetBroadband 500, FleetBroadband 250 and Inmarsat C for complete internet connection as well as two-way data connection for emergency services and 24/7 tracking.
Advertisement
These services will additionally support the real-time transfer of scientific data of ocean conditions with teams racing through some of the most remote parts of our planet.
“Inmarsat is delighted to once again partner with The Ocean Race to showcase our leading technology and support the teams facing one of the greatest endurance challenges in world sport with onboard connectivity,” said President, Inmarsat Maritime President Ronald Spithout.
“I am confident that the advanced communication capabilities including live streaming we deliver for this awe-inspiring challenge will create new firsts for the upcoming edition, such as the ground-breaking live drone footage we witnessed of the racing in the Southern Ocean from 2017–18.”
“We are excited to watch Inmarsat services open up more opportunities for the teams to utilise the modern performance application of onboard communication tools and functionality, developing new solutions to interpret data in real-time to gain a racing advantage, analyse damage and monitor equipment.”
Race Chairman of The Ocean Race Richard Brisius added: “It is rare in sport to have a partnership that extends past 20 years, but with Inmarsat, we have a perfect fit in terms of technology and values. This new agreement will allow us to further push the boundaries with our race communications.
“Over the past 20 years, we have advanced from sending short text messages and small image files to streaming live video from Southern Ocean. As we look ahead, I am confident that by working with Inmarsat, we can continue to make breakthroughs that will allow fans to feel closer to the race than ever before.”
The Ocean Race Europe will begin on 29 May 2021 in Lorient, France, and finish three weeks later in Genova, Italy. Crews will race in foiling IMOCA 60s and one-design VO65s from the North Atlantic coast of Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, with stops in Cascais, Portugal and the home port of The Ocean Race, Spain’s Alicante.
The next edition of The Ocean Race, which is considered by some to be the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world, is scheduled to commence in Alicante in October 2022 before the Grand Finale finish in Genoa, Italy mid-2023.
Two classes will compete with the addition of the high-tech, foiling IMOCA 60 class adding a design and technical element.
The one-design VO65 fleet will race on its third lap of the planet in 2022.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
