- Definition of the communication system used:
The on-board equipment is a Fleet 250 consisting of an INMARSAT Broadband antenna and a terminal or modem. Various devices are then connected, such as the on-board computer via a network cable, and a Wi-Fi terminal for the use of any other device such as a Smartphone...
- My needs on board:
An on-board computer that connects me to vectorized weather files for my routing, and also connects me to my on-board mailbox, the central channel through which we communicate with Race Direction.
Phone or tablet: this lets me communicate via the WhatsApp application and take photos and videos that I can edit directly and send via an FTP server; the file is then directly compressed and automatically sent (ROMEDIA solution) to the race communications department.
We are bound by a contract with the Vendée Globe organizers stipulating that all Skippers entered must provide a certain number of minutes of video per week, audio conferences, etc. So it's vital that this works. So it's vital that this works.
- Redundancy systems
With Advanced Tracking and our technical team, we devised several scenarios before the start for possible technical problems we might encounter during the three months at sea. The solutions we came up with were as follows:
- A second antenna is stowed away in the boat, protected from the elements and ready for easy removal and installation.
- A second post terminal ready for connection, with 2 possible power supplies.
- One emergency cable already in the boat and another independent one, so a total of 3 cables possible; the idea was to be able to cross-reference everything and quickly identify any faults, so as to be able to get the emergency system up and running again quickly and easily.
Fortunately, I didn't have to use it.
What's more, Advanced Tracking supplied me with an Iridium Go Kit which, when carried in the survival bag or in the event of a major blackout, would have enabled me - using my laptop, phone and/or tablet - to continue receiving weather data and e-mail: an important safety feature.
KONECTIS Tracking has been installed on our website since the beginning of this adventure, and is essential because a large number of "technical followers", family, team and sponsors know where we are at all times, and can thus prepare our arrivals and help us in the event of major damage... The weather forecast is also available on the Advanced Tracking map KONECTIS website, which is a plus for visitors to the site.
- On the Vendée Globe
After taking stock of the technical side of things, my post-Vendée Globe feedback is very satisfactory: I've always had the network I wanted, and the INMARSAT solution covering the whole world is top-notch and very stable. On several occasions, I've been able to do video-conferencing, and retrieve my weather files without a hitch... The most complex aspect lies not in the communication system, but in the way we communicate with our loved ones, which isn't easy because words have to be weighed up, and it's not always the right moment: the end-of-year holidays were very hard for me, because communication brings us closer together, but in reality, we're very far apart, and no system can replace the physical lack.
Many thanks again to the Advanced Tracking team for our collaboration, filled with professionalism and kindness, and bravo again for your responsiveness in implementing and monitoring our solutions! www.clementgiraud.com
