BMEA

The race is on! More than 80 boats, crew and support teams are preparing for the first ‘Round Britain Powerboat Race’ in 23 years. The race promises to be an action-packed, non-stop endurance event and will be one of the most spectacular British marine sporting events seen in recent years.

Leading race instrumentation brand B&G has released the latest version of Deckman, its renowned tactical navigation software used by raceboats ranging from America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race contenders to sportsboats and club racers.

Until now, boat builders have usually had to rely on fitting three or four separate electrical and electronic modules (often from separate suppliers) to create their “battery management” solution. Alternatively, they have had to devote a huge amount of resources, time and money to develop their own bespoke systems, which inevitably end up requiring partial redesign when a new boat comes along!

Icom is pleased to launch a new VHF/DSC marine transceiver to its ever-growing commercial line up. The new IC-GM651 is designed for Class A DSC operation and provides a complete GMDSS VHF communication system as required for Commercial SOLAS regulated vessels engaging in international voyages. The radio also meets MED 96/98/EC, “wheel mark” approval for European merchant ships.

With 48 boats in eight different classes from 7.5 to 13 metres (24-45 feet), eight legs covering some 1,424 nautical miles around Britain, and around 200 people taking part, there will be plenty of opportunities to be nominated as the recipient of the new Raymarine ‘Sprit of the Event’ Trophy to be awarded for the first time in the 2008 Round Britain Offshore Power Boat Race.

Complete refit of historic racing powerboat includes integrated navigation, communications and safety equipment installation

The new Gimballed Rate Compass (GRC) from B&G offers for the first time a competitively priced solution to the problem of eliminating the effects of heel and pitch from the compass read-out.