McMurdo Smartfind S20 Survivor Recovery System

McMurdo has equipped the crew of a boat racing in the 2013 Transpacific (Transpac) Yacht Race with the company’s Smartfind S20 Survivor Recovery System (SRS).

The Tritium Racing entry, a 73-foot trimaran, left Los Angeles on Saturday (July 13) and is attempting to break the record of 5 days, 9 hours, 18 minutes and 26 seconds for the 2,225 nautical mile race to Honolulu. The Transpac dates to 1906 and is held every two years.

"Crew safety is a primary concern in competitive offshore racing. The S20 is specifically designed as a personal AIS search and rescue locating device to quickly and efficiently locate and retrieve a crew member in a MOB situation," said Bill Eastwood of McMurdo. 

The McMurdo Smartfind S20 is worn on a lifejacket and activated by sliding off the safety tab and lifting an arming cap to deploy the antenna. The compact, lightweight unit sends alert messages, GPS position and a special identity code directly to AIS receivers within approximately a four nautical mile radius (depending on sea conditions).

No additional equipment is needed - the S20 ties directly into an existing AIS-enabled chart plotter and navigation system.

A unique, built-in, high precision GPS receiver - which updates every 60 seconds – assures accuracy of the data transmitted from the S20 SRS.

With precise location, distance and bearing data, fellow crew members (and nearby AIS-enabled receivers) receive all the information they need to locate the position of the person in difficulty and to enable a speedy recovery.

The S20 SRS will transmit continuously for up to 24 hours and has a seven year battery storage life. It is made of ultra durable ABS, waterproof to 15 feet, and includes a flashing LED light to aid with locating the activated unit at night.

For more information about the McMurdo Smartfind S20 SRS and other McMurdo safety and rescue products, visit www.mcmurdomarine.com.

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Company information contact: Bill Eastwood, 1+585.424.0082 or bill.eastwood@orolia.com.

Press contact: David Pilvelait, 1+804.436.9002 or david@homeportmarine.com. Download high resolution product image at: www.homeportmarine.com/news/mcmurdo/mcmurdoimages.html.

Transpac 2013 product news release prepared by Home Port Marine Marketing.  www.homeportmarine.com.

Orolia Ltd. - Silver Point, Airport Service Rd, Portsmouth - PO3 5PB United Kingdom.