This
ARC+ fleet we are participating in, is the first time EVER that an
flotilla crosses the Atlantic, while a large number of the participants,
is live chatting via the internet.
This year in Jan 2023 (or was it late dec 2022?) was the first time
some sailors experimented with Starlink in a transat and reported it was
working (though starlink had not released the service yet officially)…
On the boats I crossed with in 2021 and 2022 we had already full
internet but lower bandwidth with us (we tested the very first
prototypes of the Skylink and new Iridium Go Exec at that time, with the
Iridium technical team.)
But…. back then, even though fully connected, we were alone on the
ocean: hardly any other sailor had internet connectivity on the ocean.
And look at us now!? Thanks to the newer generation of satellite systems (like Starlink), we are chatting away on whatsapp and telegram with
routing info, position reports, fishing tips, jokes, and enhancing
safety for all.
Pictures of the kids having thsnksgiving or doing home work. Videos of issues on boats, screens of data…
And the better for safety. When a vessel in our fleet dismasted some
days ago, the whole fleet was alerted by them in minutes. About an hour
later, two other boats were already next to them, transferring extra
fuel, with two more to follow with extra fuel.
Three nights ago, we had lightning storms in the hood, and we kept each other informed, life, of where the storm went.
I love this… This will go down in the history books as the first flotilla crossing while chatting on whatsapp !
Sailing will never be the same again…
Peter, on S/V Sturdeee.