Oct/Nov 2007

A high-performance tracking system from Cybit subsidiary Bluefinger is to be used during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008. The race organisers will use the company's Saffire system to track the position, direction and speed of each yacht in the race, and followers will be able to watch the progress of the race through three-dimensional images.

The Saffire system will monitor the progress of every boat throughout the ten stages of the nine-month 2008-09 global event, which covers 39,000 nautical miles. It will use the International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT) network to give accurate race updates, which will be refreshed every 15 minutes. The information will be used to monitor the safety of each yacht and allow accurate race scoring and leadership tables to be maintained.