Across the Waves

by Liz Addis, Writer, Quokka Sports on 25 Oct 2000 The media communications on board the 12 BT Challenge yachts have been in almost continual use during the race so far.

On Leg One nearly 300 e-mails and dozens more photos and video clips were used by the media while daily contact was made
with radio interviews.

The crew volunteers on board the boats have a number of ways of communicating with the outside world.

They can send e-mails, photos or videos via the B-Sat, speak live to land using the Mobiq marine telephone or even video conference using
the B-Sat satellite system.

The assets are then published by a range of media such as TV, radio, magazines, newspapers and of course the internet.

Elaine Bunting, features editor of monthly magazine Yachting World, has recently experienced using the Mobiq to interview three of the
yacht’s skippers live on the radio for an article she is compiling.

“I had arranged to speak to Olympic Group skipper Manley Hopkinson and Norwich Union skipper Neil Murray as they were the closest
boats east and west of the hurricane as it passed. Just by coincidence BP skipper Mark Denton also phoned in.

“It is extremely convenient to be able to speak to them and find out what’s going on in real time. I can ask what I actually want to know
rather than what they want to send,” she said.

Hopkinson reflects on the interview. He said, “It is a fantastic bit of kit the Mobiq, for I could just dial up Elaine and talk as if I was in the
town next door. Clear as a bell.

“It is all part of the incredible technology that is making the world smaller. You can always be contacted, never out of reach. “Actually, in
retrospect, it sounds awful. Some Machiavellian nightmare.

“Can you never find peace anymore? Part of the joys of ocean sailing is the isolation. Not being in touch, not knowing what has happened
by the time you make next port.

“Even the beautiful timeless haven of mid ocean can now be punctuated by ‘ring, ring’! But you can switch phones off you know! It is
possible.

“We all survived quite well without shouting ‘sell, sell’ whilst on the 0723 from Dorking or mid Pacific!”