Satellite phone company to sponsor yacht race

Globalstar, an Australian dual mode mobile satellite and cellular mobile telephone service provider, has announced its official sponsorship of this year's television broadcast of the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day.

The Globalstar sponsorship includes the one-hour coverage of the start, live crosses and updates via Network Ten's Sports Tonight program, and a one-hour race review program in January.

To enhance the entire coverage, four competing yachts including Seriously Ten and Skandia, will carry Globalstar's Mobile everywhere voice and data capable satellite phones. As well as providing instant media reports around the clock, the phones will be capable of all-weather communications with race headquarters in the event of an incident.

Seen as a logical fit with one of the world's great offshore sailing challenges, Globalstar's phones switch from cellular to satellite providing coverage throughout Australia and its surrounding waters, out to New Zealand, New Caledonia, and up to 500 nautical miles into the Southern & Indian Oceans.

"We are pleased about the broadcast sponsorship and the fact that it provides the opportunity to demonstrate to safety-conscious yacht owners how effective and inexpensive voice and data satellite communications have become," said Globalstar's Managing Director, Peter Bolger, when announcing the company's backing of the television broadcast.

The one-hour live broadcast of the start will commence at 1pm (Eastern Daylight Saving Time), with the official start set down for 1:10PM. Network Ten's Leigh Diffey will host the show, and he will be supported by yachtsman and media personality, Rob Mundle, who will be reporting on the classic for the 32nd time.