Press releases
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09 Jul 2009
u-blox and Velocitek chosen by several of the world’s top sailing teams
Velocitek’s SC-1 speed compass with u-blox’ GPS receiver module conveys critical real-time speed, heading and position data to several world champion sailing crews
Velocitek’s SC-1 speed compass with u-blox’ GPS receiver module conveys critical real-time speed, heading and position data to several world champion sailing crews
Paia, Hawaii / Reston, Virginia, USA and Thalwil, Switzerland – July 9, 2009 – u-blox, a leading fabless provider of embedded positioning and wireless communications solutions, is pleased to announce that its high-performance LEA GPS receiver module now powers Velocitek’s SC-1 speed compass.
The GPS speedometer SC-1 is designed and manufactured by Hawaii-based Velocitek, specialists in GPS accessories for performance sailing. Velocitek’s products target this highly competitive market, positioning them among the world ’s top marine technology companies. Velocitek’s SC-1 is used onboard the top boats in the Melges 24 and Viper 640 sport boat classes. The SC-1 also guided reigning Moth-class sailing world champion John Harris on his race to victory, and was recently spotted in use onboard Alinghi’s VX40 catamaran at the iShares cup race held in Lugano.
To provide the critical heading, speed and position data needed for calculations such as starting line proximity, velocity made good (VMG), and tactical compass readouts in the SC-1, Velocitek depends on a u-blox’ GPS receiver technology. The high-performance u-blox GPS receiver module is notable for its small footprint, low power consumption and robust performance in challenging marine conditions including high humidity, wide temperature range and frequent mechanical shock.
“Our GPS receivers have been designed to perform in demanding environments. With its robust tracking and dynamic sensitivity, u-blox GPS technology provides continuous position, direction and speed information. It is perfectly suited to the rigors of ocean sailboat racing,” says Nikolaos Papadopoulos, president of u-blox America.
“The unique ability of the u-blox GPS module to provide accurate, robust, GPS solutions four times a second allows us to provide accurate, real-time GPS performance feedback for racing sailboats with a product that is both more accurate and less costly than non GPS-based alternatives,” notes Alec Stewart, president of Velocitek.