Iridium signs on as sponsor for solo sailboat racer
ARLINGTON, Va. – Iridium Satellite LLC has agreed to provide satellite communication equipment and services to solo sailboat racer Joe Harris for his upcoming attempt in the single-handed Transat Race across the North Atlantic this summer, the company recently reported in a press release.
Harris’ boat, Wells Fargo-American Pioneer, has been equipped with an Iridium satellite phone, which provides two-way telephone and data communications between ship and shore.
“The Iridium phone will be a vital link for safety communications throughout the ocean passage,” said Harris. “I will rely heavily on the satellite system to get important weather information online, exchange information with our shoreside support team and file daily reports and photos to the media.”
The Transat Race begins on May 31 in Plymouth and finishes in Boston in mid-June. The course across is over 3,000 miles. In late spring conditions, Harris can expect to encounter strong headwinds, fog, cold temperatures and the threat of icebergs over much of the route, Iridium reported.
“The Transat sailboat race provides a convincing demonstration of Iridium’s ability to provide dependable satellite communications under the harshest marine environments,” said Will Kraus, director of marketing for Iridium.
- For more of the latest news, click here.
- To discuss this topic with other recreational marine industry professionals, click here.