The Last Minute

Ocean Planet/USA 05 Update from Bruce Schwab:
Friday, September 17, 2004

• Iridium Satellite Solutions joins Ocean Planet as an Official Supplier Sponsor
• Shipping of equipment ready to go
• Transatlantic crew selected & ready

I am very happy to announce that Iridium Satellite Solutions, the world-wide satellite phone network, has come aboard Ocean Planet as an Official Supplier Sponsor!

By providing the sponsorship of a big chunk of airtime minutes, Iridium will give us the ability to communicate with voice and data from anywhere in the world.

Although there are higher bandwidth satellite systems out there, Iridium's small, practical antenna and ease of use make it a fantastic solution for communication from anywhere. Thanks Iridium!

Our container leaves this morning (Friday) so we are rushing to get everything in there and packed.

The Ocean Planet crew for delivery to Les Sables:

Who is going? Well, me (of course), Mario Espin of Key West, Florida (Mario has been helping me lately on the management of this enterprise), John Eide of Portland, Maine (worked on the boat all winter instead of his Concordia 39), and devoted helpers Ernie & Bette Reuter of Burlington Vermont (and of www.clothncanvas.com). A safe and easy delivery to France is our goal, no need to break anything. Will send pics of the crew later, after I have them trapped on the boat....

Btw, here is an official article about the race that just came out, introducing all the Vendee Globe entries and more.

The next time you hear from me, we'll be at sea!

This American team for the Vendee Globe is made possible by your donations to The Made in America Foundation (www.bruceschwab.com/support.cfm), and our supplier sponsors:

Coast-Line International: www.coast-lineintl.com
Doyle Sailmakers: www.doylesails.com
Equiplite lightweight connectors: www.equiplite.com
Infomatrix: www.infomatrix-usa.com
MAS Epoxies: www.masepoxies.com
Nobeltec navigation software: www.nobeltec.com
Portland Yacht Services: www.portlandyacht.com
Samson rope technologies: www.samsonrope.com
Solara Energy Systems: www.solaraenergy.com
WoodenBoat Magazine: www.woodenboat.com

Join our team: www.bruceschwab.com/sponsorship.cfm