Like all other boats in the Vendée Globe, Brian Thompson's Pindar and Dee Caffari's Aviva are fitted with coms equipment that allows live like up with the shore. Thanks to those revolutionary systems, the sailors have been able to communicate, see and talk to their shore teams, sponsors and families during the 3 month long Vendée Globe.

Skippers from the Vendée Globe such as Sébastien Josse on BT, Sam Davies on Roxy or Brian Thomson on Pindar have been using OC Technology's live videoconference system, the "OC Videobox" and are ecstatic about it. Since 2008, OC Technology has been providing the London International Boatshow with a shore end system compatible with most of the systems fitted on the boats, including of course OC Technology's own creation - the "OC Videobox".
Indded, this is how Dame Ellen MacArtur and Dee Caffari on Aviva have been able to have a chat, the former sitting in London while the latter was sailing in the Southern Ocean ! Same story between World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams who did a live link-up with fellow Team Pindar sailor Brian Thompson, close to Cape Horn in the Southern Ocean while Mike Golding interviewed Steve White onboard Toe In The Water. 

The system has been designed first and foremost for Ellen MacArthur's campaigns around the world. Further on, Thomas Coville's Sodeb'o was fitted with an extensive version of the system, as was Ellen's trimaran, now Oman Sail's Musandam which finished a Roud the World Muscat to Muscat trip.

 

For more info, check on OC Technology's website - media systems. 

Internation London Boatshow 2009