Boat Tracking for a Race

[silversailor]

I need assistance in identifying a reasonably priced boat tracking system that can be used to track 200-250 boats over a 88 nm course. Next year the 74th running of the Queen's Cup will leave Milwaukee, WI on Friday 6/29 (most racers start after 7 pm CT) and end 88 nm later at South Haven, MI. I chair the Finish Committee of the South Haven YC and hope to introduce a tracking system that will allow viewing of all boats' location, speed etc via internet. Any suggestions? Pls feel free to post here or PM me.

Many thanks,

Silversailor

[RainDog]

Our local regatta uses Spot messengers for tacking through Trackleaders. You get free web based tracking (see Harvest Moon Regatta live tracker by trackleaders.com for an example) with some very nice features. The cost to participants is $0 if they own a spot (which many do) or a nominal fee ($25 or $50 as I recall) to rent a unit. I am not sure if there is any fee for the race organizers, but I suspect there is not.

If you want more details contact Lakewood Yacht Club at hmr@lakewoodyachtclub.com or check out http://www.trackleaders.com/

[bewitched]

The boat I race on has yellowbrick fitted to it. (The owner runs a ship management co. and uses this system). It sends a signal every 4 hours automatically and can be traced on Google by friends & family.

The last delivery we did was 8 days offshore and 8 days back. It did miss a couple of scheds in that time though.

[silversailor]

Yellowbrick seems to be the premier system for most offshore distance races. However, it's expensive, especially for a 7-20 hr race. I'm talking to trackleaders.com who use Spots and looking for other suggestions.
Thanks.