08 February 2016: Five friends (four of whom have military experience) have set off on a 3,308 nautical miles (nm) row across the Atlantic Ocean, in a bid to set a new world record and raise money for UK children’s charity, the NSPCC.

Throughout their gruelling challenge, the men, known as Team Essence, will be safe in the knowledge that they have the connectivity they require to share the adventure in real-time on social media, stay in touch with loved ones and call for help if needed – made possible by Inmarsat.

Sailing from Lagos in Portugal to Macuro, Venezuela, their chosen route is by no means the easiest, crossing vast swathes of the Atlantic Ocean. Rowing 24/7, continent to continent, in a boat that measures just 8.5 metres (27.8 feet) x 1.2 metres (3.9 feet), Team Essence will be aiming to cut the current world record of 52 days to 46 days.

Real-time tracking

The boat has been fitted with an Inmarsat’s IsatData Pro machine to machine (M2M) communication service, to track and monitor the boat’s progress and send back positional data to a tracking map in real-time every 20 minutes.

The team have also been given two IsatPhone 2 satellite phones, providing a great morale boost for the men who can call home and speak to loved ones from the middle of the ocean. The phones have an emergency assistance button as well as a tracking option, which can be activated in case of an emergency.

Finally, they have a BGAN Explorer 510 terminal, which will allow Team Essence to keep supporters updated in real-time on their Facebook and Twitter pages with posts, photos and blogs of their incredible adventure.

Connected boat

‘Thanks to Inmarsat, Team Essence will be the most technologically advanced and connected ocean rowing boat ever to cross the Atlantic, allowing us to communicate every high and low of our epic challenge,” said Team Essence member Oliver Bailey.

“Inmarsat technologies will enable seamless communication between ourselves and our support team, friends and family, and social media followers. Our most important device is the IsatPhone 2 for our general welfare, weather updates and medical advice.

“IsatData Pro will allow friends, family and supporters to trace our progress live and most importantly, officially certify the crossing time from mainland to mainland. Thanks Inmarsat!”