B&G helps Volvo Ocean Race winner to victory

by Navico on 31 Jul 2012 After 39,000 gruelling nautical miles of this year’s Volvo Ocean Race, it’s not just the victorious crew of Groupama who have performed amazing feats. All equipment on-board the 70ft race boat has been tested to the limit, and has contributed to the amazing win, which was the culmination of the closest race in 39 years of racing history.

One of the most crucial elements powering the Groupama race team has been the navigation system, which is based around the WTP3, B&G’s world leading Wave Technology Processor. The WTP3 has provided essential tactical and performance data since the beginning of the Groupama Volvo project in 2010.

Collecting and processing information from a huge array of sensors from boat speed and heading to rig tension and keel position, along with critical wind data, the B&G WTP3 is a powerful tool that integrates with the Deckman suite of tactical navigation software, providing real-time instrument data to the navigator.

This Grand Prix sailing instrument system increases the accuracy of sensor data by eliminating the effects of wave motion from wind calculations, providing highly reliable and repeatable performance data. The data provided by the WTP3 gives the crew an instant perspective of conditions and boat performance, which is crucial when making race-defining decisions.

In addition to providing pioneering 'Wave Technology' motion correction WTP3 also provides on-board data logging for post-sail analysis, optimised calibration options and JavaScript support for user functions – ensuring that any information navigators need is at their fingertips.

Integrated with the WTP3, the team also utilised B&G’s 20/20 HVision displays which provided information clearly to crew on deck in all conditions from a wide range of sensors, for precise data acquisition. The crew also used a B&G Broadband 4G™ Radar for collision avoidance and relative performance measurement.

Along with B&G products, Groupama and the other Volvo Ocean Race competitors benefited from the B&G technical team being present at every Volvo Ocean Race stopover, including Auckland, New Zealand, to ensure that any requirements were easily met and advice was always on hand.

B&G Product Line Director Alan Davis said: 'The WTP3 has been developed using Grand Prix racing as its test bed, its success in the Volvo follows on from the pioneering WTP and WTP2 models, which have been used by previous winners in the Volvo Ocean Race. WTP3, along with Deckman, Broadband Radar and HVision displays provides a system second to none.

'B&G Grand Prix systems are used by top sailors taking part in all the major events - from Jules Verne records and Volvo Ocean Race victories to the Fastnet, Sydney-Hobart and Newport-Bermuda classics, B&G is proud to be chosen to supply and support navigation systems for the very best racers in the world.

'We’d like to extend our congratulations to Franck and the Groupama team and B&G look forward to continuing to support them and the racing needs of all Volvo Ocean Race competitors in their future projects.'

For more information on the race winning Groupama team, please visit www.cammas-groupama.com. Find out why all boats in the Volvo Ocean Race use B&G equipment and how the world’s top sailors rely on B&G to keep them ahead of the competition at www.bandg.com