Patos Island Race Tracker Failure

Swiftsure

April16,2014
forimmediaterelease
 
During the recent Patos IslandRacehosted bySidneyNorthSaanichYachtClub(SNSYC)racersand fansweredisappointedin theRaceTrackerprovided by the Swiftsure International Raceorganizationwhenitfailedduringtherace.The Swiftsure organization deeply regrets thisfailurethatpersisteddespitemakingeveryeffort  to solve the difficulties during the race. The problem, however, did not originate with theSwiftsureRaceTracker technologywhichdisplays thedata feed from the SPOTunitslocatedoneachcompetingboat.ThefailurewasrelatedtoaGlobalstarserverthat receives the data feed via satellite. They were unable to identify andcorrect the sourceof the technical failure before the end of thePatos Island Raceleavingtheracewithnotracking/viewingsystem.Globalstarhasassuredusthatithassincecorrectedtheproblem.
 
The race tracking system relies on thepositioninformationtransmittedfrom theSPOT units via Globalstar’s satellite network. If the supporting technologiesunderlying thiscomplex system fail, then the entireTrackerSystem falls over.Noamount of technicalwizardry on thepart ofSwiftsuretechnologistswillmake thesystemworkifthereliabilityofthefeedfromGlobalstariscompromised.
 
TheSwiftsureRaceCommitteewouldliketoremindracers,andraceplanners,thatalthoughtheRaceTrackerisnotareplacement for theGlobalMarineDistressandSafetySystem (GMDSS),itisstillanimportantsafety tool.Duringanyoutage(liketherecentoutageduringthePatosIslandRace)Globalstarstaffmanuallymonitorall911/SOSmessages,andshouldaSPOTusersignalanemergency,theircoordinateswouldhavebeenrelayed toGEOSandrescueserviceswouldhavebeenemployed.TheRaceTrackerisalsoavaluablesystemfortrackingracing/retiredcompetitors,andforwatchingthecompetition.Marinersandshoresupportorganizationsshouldconsider the Race Trackerasbothan information system andasecondarysafetysystemforboatsonthewater.
 
Globalstarisworkinghardtoensure100%reliabilityoftheSPOTsystem,andtheyaremitigatingriskof futuresimilarincidentsbypostponingsoftwaremaintenanceactivities,andbyprovidinganopenlineofcommunicationduringanyraces.
 
FormoreinformationContact: SwiftsureOffice
RoyalVictoriaYachtClub
(250)592-9098(250)592-9098

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