Cowes Week yacht tracking reinforces role of Internet

by Sail-World on 6 Jul 2007 Skandia Cowes Week yacht tracking reinforces the role of Internet. Once upon a time boats went out on the water to race. Now the world can watch them live.

A huge audience watched the America's Cup boats through every tack and gybe around the world, via the Internet. Now as technology costs plummet, live tracking is coming down to much smaller boats.

Boat tracking device manufacturer Traxu will provide live tracking of the inaugural 'Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week' regatta on Friday 3rd August 2007.

Twenty-seven Class winners from Skandia Cowes Week 2006 will battle it out in allocated 6.15 metres (20 foot) Laser SB3s in a three race series. With the boat's owner on board, helms will compete for top prizes including a Volkswagen Touareg, Volkswagen Eos and Laser GXD.

Traxu will fit 105g tracking devices, from its Race-TraX suite of products, to the transom rail of each Laser SB3.

These devices, the size of a mobile phone, will use the cellular network to post their positions to the King of Cowes website in real-time (Traxu also provide UHF and satellite telemetry).

Traxu devices are stand-alone and self-powered, currently weighing upwards from 0.105kg including batteries and with a battery life of between 1-21 days subject to frequency of transmission of position (current maximum position of 10/second accurate to 2cm via DGPS). Current minimum device size (battery and capability dependent) is 75x45x25mm with built-in antenna

Traxu devices use GPS (satellite) for positioning information and GPRS (phone), UHF/VHF (free to air) or satellite communications for transmission. With the versatility of three types of data bearer units are available for all kinds of racing from dinghies to offshore big boats.

For the King of Cowes event live tracking and replays will be available by a link at www.kingofcowes.com and also from www.traxu.com. The user is able to select boats, zoom in and out, freeze and compare (replay) for tactical analysis.

Performance Sailcraft Europe Ltd and Volkswagen Touareg have teamed up to create this very special invitation-only sailing regatta. With names such as Andy Budgen (winner in the Sigma 38 Class), Graham Bailey (Etchells), Alastaire Richardson (Extreme 40), and Russell Peters (Laser SB3), the event promises to be hotly contested.

For more information and LIVE! tracking on the day see www.kingofcowes.com

For a full list of competitors and crews visit www.kingofcowes.com/competitor/koc