[SatNews] When long-time cruiser and writer Wally Moran leads the 2014 Snowbird Rally down the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) next month, he’ll be using an inReach Explorer from DeLorme as a vital communication and navigation aid during the voyage.
The handheld inReach satellite communicator will provide an uninterrupted link for the Rally leader, even in areas beyond the reach of cellular telephone services. It provides automatic GPS tracking, interactive SOS distress messaging and full two-way texting, as well as built-in navigation functions. Friends, family and followers of the Rally participants will be able to view the latest location and status of the lead boat on the “Where’s Wally” map at the ICW Snowbird Rally website. Moran will also use the inReach to post updates to Facebook and Twitter.
Sponsored by SAIL magazine, the ICW Snowbird Rally kicks off November 1st in Hampton, Virginia. Moran will lead a fleet of sailboats down the waterway with planned overnight stops at ICW destinations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia before reaching Miami on December 14th. The inReach Explorer is Delorme’s next-generation handheld satellite communicator, which incorporates a suite of navigational features that provide extra convenience and safety for sailors. In addition to the messaging, tracking and SOS capabilities, inReach Explorer users can also:
- View route details such as distance and bearing to destination
- Drop waypoints and see detailed GPS tracks and messages geo-located on screen for backtracking or self-rescue
- Access the built-in digital compass, barometric altimeter and accelerometer to augment the GPS navigator
The ability to text, post and tweet is another popular feature of the inReach Explorer. Using a virtual keyboard, users can send and receive 160-character free-form text messages to any cell phone number, email address or social media page. Using DeLorme’s Earthmate App, the inReach Explorer also pairs wirelessly with smartphones and tablets to view maps and NOAA charts and make text messaging even more convenient. In the event of an emergency, the push of a button will send an instant distress message to an international search-and-rescue (SAR) coordination center. The two-way link allows SAR authorities to locate and communicate with the sender, determine the nature of the emergency and respond with appropriate resources.
DeLorme will show the inReach products in Booth YB18 at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, October 9-13.
There's additional information available at https://www.inreachdelorme.com
For additional information regarding the rally, please visit https://www.sailmagazine.com/icw-itinerary
