The new Atlas 2 from Vakaros
by Vakaros 31 Aug 2021 08:38 PDT
The new Atlas 2 © Vakaros
Vakaros was founded on a simple idea: use state-of-the-art technology to improve the experience of sailors on and off the water.
Challenges on the water
The idea grew out of the founder’s frustrations as they saw sailors trying to use existing technology that was far too limited in its performance, slow to adopt new advances, and incredibly difficult to use. Just 3 years ago, instruments largely provided a single function, couldn’t be updated with new capabilities, and relied on antiquated technologies: AA batteries, wired connections, displays that didn’t work with polarized glasses, just to mention a few.
Game changer
The original Atlas was specifically designed to overcome these limitations. The company combined powerful, state-of-the-art sensors with clever algorithms, a revolutionary user interface, and a 75 hour rechargeable battery to redefine sailing instrumentation. Designing as much capability into the hardware as possible, it allowed Vakaros to add new features with simple, easy software updates through the Vakaros Connect app. Shift tracking, time-to-line, industry-leading 10 Hz data logging, and more - update after update, the Atlas just keeps getting better.
New – the Atlas 2
Fast forward 3 years, and the Atlas still outperforms every other instrument on the water. That is, until now. Behind the scenes at Vakaros, they’ve been hard at work on a revolutionary new product that builds on everything learned from the Atlas and incorporates brand new, state-of-the-art technology. If you thought the Atlas was game changing, just wait until you see what the Atlas 2 can do.
A sailing instrument is only as good as its sensors — As Vakaros co-founder Jake Kielman likes to say; “garbage in, garbage out”. For decades, every GPS product you’ve used has been limited to receiving a single channel of GPS signal, known as the L1 band. Constant, unpredictable variation in the upper atmosphere means that these single-band receivers are fundamentally limited to a positional accuracy of 2-3 m - pretty good if you’re navigating across an ocean, but not so great at the start-line. Atlas 2 is not only the first sailing instrument, but among the very first products of any kind to offer a GPS receiver capable of receiving both L1 and L5 signals. What does this mean in terms of performance? Truly game changing accuracy, with a positional error of less than 50 cm. The Atlas 2 is the best GPS on the water.
L1 + L5 GPS performance alone makes the Atlas 2 revolutionary, but of course there is more. Compass accuracy? Measured in tenths of a degree. Battery life? Nearly a week. Barometric pressure? Of course, another industry first. Wireless charging? Naturally. Powerful new speakers, a customizable array of LEDs, the list goes on and on.
Available for pre-order now on the Vakaros website for $999, a reduction of US$100 off retail price.