(l-r) Knut Frostad, Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Walther Thygesen, CEO, Thrane & Thrane. Image copyright Jon Nordstrom/Thane & Thane.
by Sophie Luther
For the third consecutive Volvo Ocean Race, Danish company Thrane & Thrane will play a vital role in delivering the close-up, onboard action to the millions of race fans around the world. The Copenhagen-based company will be the official sponsor of satellite and radio communications for the world’s premier ocean race, which starts from Alicane in October 2011.
Thrane & Thrane’s next generation SAILOR® FleetBroadband and VHF equipment will be onboard every cutting-edge Volvo Open 70 as they race the 39,270 nautical miles around the world.
“We have once again selected Thrane & Thrane to provide a comprehensive communications package for the teams, based on the support and faultless performance of the SAILOR equipment in the two previous races,” said Knut Frostad, Volvo Ocean Race CEO during the signing of the agreement, which took place in Copenhagen.
“We need the latest technology not only to deliver our vision and commitment to bringing offshore racing to a global television and online audience, but to ensure that the teams have the best safety communication possible as they race through the harshest and most testing conditions imaginable. We are delighted to have Thrane & Thrane back onboard and we are confident that its latest FleetBroadband and VHF solutions will bring unmatched broadband and safety communication“, he said.
Thrane & Thrane will supply new products including the world’s first second generation FleetBroadband antenna. The SAILOR 500 FleetBroadband will be the central communication hub for each race team and will be used for uploading race footage, reports and interviews, which will be used in the production of television and online content. This equipment will also be used for downloading the weather data, which will be vital for competitive performance and all teams will benefit from true broadband communication throughout the entire track around the globe.
Every race boat, as well as the umpire fleet will be fully equipped with variants of the newly introduced and advanced SAILOR 6200 VHF series. This series is highly regarded by users due to its replay function and robust waterproof design, which makes it suitable for even the toughest marine environments.
The SAILOR 150 FleetBroadband will be used for crew voice calling and IP data while two SAILOR mini-C systems will be onboard for constant positioning data and global safety communication.
“The Volvo Ocean Race is not only about high-class performance, but also survival in the most challenging of situations and we relish the opportunity of putting our equipment through its paces once again,” said Walther Thygesen, CEO, Thrane & Thrane.
“It is the ultimate test platform and we receive invaluable and immediate feedback from the crews, which has led to the Volvo Ocean Race becoming an integral part of our research and development. Our products have performed consistently successfully during our time as a sponsor of the race and if the SAILOR products can withstand such an ultimate test, then their credentials as the toughest most reliable communications equipment for all maritime applications are well earned.”
The race will visit eight stopover ports on five continents and race through four oceans, in under nine months. The Volvo Open 70s will cover over 39,270 nautical miles racing around the globe. The race will start in October 2011 from Alicante (Spain), followed by stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajai (Brazil), Miami (USA), Lisbon (Portugal), Lorient (France) and finally the race finish in Galway (Ireland) in July 2012.
Volvo Ocean Race
