Igtimi Ltd director Brent Russell packs GPS tracking
equipment in Dunedin last week. It will be installed on the
super-multihulls to be raced by Oracle and Alinghi, to
track them for Animation Research's Virtual Eye graphics
system. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Two Dunedin companies face a huge task to set up graphics
coverage for the multihull battle between America's Cup
challenger Oracle and Swiss defender Alinghi next month, off
Valencia's coast in Spain.
Their massive, 27m-long multihulls, with 50m masts, estimated
to have cost tens of millions of dollars each, are due to
begin a best-of-three race event on February 8 to contest the
33rd America's Cup.
But even now, the rival syndicates are mired in litigation
which could postpone the event.
The deadline for setting up graphics coverage passed earlier
this month for Animation Research Ltd, the pioneer of
America's Cup graphics coverage with its Virtual Eye, but a
late call about a fortnight ago, from organisers, prompted
the company to send three staff members and equipment to
Spain last Saturday.
Seven staff are expected to be in Valencia when racing
begins.
Animation Research managing director Ian Taylor confirmed
yesterday a contract with the organisers was in place.
Mr Taylor said getting ready in time for the race will be
"one of the biggest [graphics set-up] challenges we've had".
"Not much is known about Oracle and Alinghi.
"They have the biggest, fastest boats to contest the
America's Cup and it takes place on the largest ever course,"
Mr Taylor said.
The other Dunedin-based company involved is Igtimi Ltd, which
has been designing and supplying electronics hardware and
software for Animation Research's Virtual Eye graphics
program since 2008, including the Louis Vuitton series in
Auckland, recent Med [Mediterranean] Cup and other Vuitton
World Series regattas.
Director Brent Russell will head to Valencia shortly, to
install radio and satellite up-link technology for his
u-Track telemetry system, which provides the data for the
Virtual Eye graphics.
He said the u-Track had high degrees of accuracy and speed,
and reliable live-data transmission.
It also provided other relevant information, such as wind
speed, direction, vessel angle and compass headings.
Mr Taylor said that given Oracle was racing a trimaran and
Alinghi a catamaran, there was much speculation on one
becoming a "runaway, no-contest" winner, or the pair having a
"straight-out drag race" while separated by up to 12 nautical
miles, which could make television and graphics coverage
difficult.
The vast sail area of the 50m masts meant dual GPS trackers
had to be installed on both sides of each boat to ensure at
least one was in satellite contact, because of interference
from the "massive wall of carbon fibre", he said.
Oracle and Alinghi, owned respectively by billionaires Larry
Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli, have been arguing over the
rules of the America's Cup in court since the Swiss syndicate
won the last race, beating Emirates Team New Zealand 5-2 to
retain the America's Cup in Valencia in 2007.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.