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BT Global Challenge
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Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited is a consortium sponsor of the yacht TeamSpirIT in the BT Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race, starting from Southampton, England on 10th September 2000, and lasting approximately 10 months.

The BT Global Challenge is billed as "the world's toughest yacht race" and is regarded as the most challenging event of its type, with the crews sailing the "wrong way" around the world, against the prevailing winds and currents.
TeamSpirIT is one of 12 identical state-of-the-art yachts making up the fleet of the BT Global Challenge. Each 72' steel-hulled yacht has a fully qualified skipper and 17 ordinary men and women, who have realised their dream to become part of the crew for this adventurous event. The crews have come from all over the world and have followed an arduous training programme to provide them with the necessary skills. TeamSpirIT's crew members come from all walks of life, and include a doctor, a dog handler and a farmer.
Visit www.btchallenge.com to follow the Race's progress - check the yacht positions, read daily messages from the yachts, and see pictures and video clips. The web site will also display the estimated dates of arrival and departure at all the Ports of Call: Boston, Buenos Aires, Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town and La Rochelle, returning to Southampton for the finish date of 30 June 2001.

Race Update

A PODIUM FINISH FOR TEAMSPIRIT

TeamSpirIT held onto the impressive lead she had built up throughout the seventh leg, until the last hours of the race. With the first three yachts home constantly changing position over the final few miles, in tight round-the-cans racing style, it was an exciting, adrenaline-charged finish and a well-deserved podium position for TeamSpirIT at the end of this seventh leg. A very close match at the end, with only yards separating the yachts at times.

TeamSpirIT was awarded second place at the end of this final leg, elevating her overall position to fifth across the 32,000 miles of the race.
A tense time for the three leading yachts and their crews out in the Solent, with spinnakers forming a patchwork quilt on the horizon. As much tension could be felt in the Marina, with everyone watching the live coverage on the huge public screen and those fortunate to have laptops with wireless connections could also follow the Webcast.

Circumnavigating the world the wrong way round, with over 32,000 miles and ten months away from home, provided the multinational crew with incredible memories the race is sure to have changed their outlook on many aspects of life. Crew members recall the sights and sounds of waves as they navigated their way around Cape Horn: “one minute the waves beside you are as high as the mast, the next minute that wave seems to have passed through you and the yacht comes crashing down. The enormity is something that words can fail to reflect.”
Sir Chay Blyth, creator of the Global Challenge concept, was one of the first people to greet the crew on Saturday, with the traditional bottle of Champagne.

A tremendous reception awaited the crew at Ocean Village Marina, with their signature tune blasting from every speaker as they arrived in the Marina. The atmosphere was electrifying, and loud music mixed well with the sights of thousands of people, flags and banners covering every structure - the festive atmosphere continued through to 23:00, when a firework display provided a grand finale.

The media, families and friends and sponsors of each yacht displayed as much enthusiasm for the return of each yacht, as they did for their own crew.
Skipper quote: John Read, Skipper TeamSpirIT 5th place “The best part of the race overall? I think probably coming in here (Southampton) really. We have always been close to a podium finish and that was a close finish. I wasn’t skipper from the start and I wish I had been. This last leg was a great leg, everything went really well and then as usual a few little things go against you, a bit of bad luck, but we still managed to hold top three - so it was good news for TeamSpirIT.”

27 June 2001: Leg 7 day 2. 10:49:43 GMT

Once again TeamSpirIT takes the lead, as the yachts race each other to catch the tidal gate off the west coast of Brittany, near the Ile d'Ouessant. Catching a favourable tide at this point will allow the more tactically successful teams to increase their lead by a significant margin. With today's wind - a westerly force 4 - plus a moderate swell and a forecast of mainly south-westerly winds of between force 3 and 4, there is every possibility that TeamSpirIT can hold onto its lead, as these conditions should result in fast and exhilarating sailing under spinnaker.

With the race finishing on Saturday 30th June at Southampton, after this final and intensively competitive leg, crew members will be able to recall their experiences across every emotion known to mankind - from abject fear and complete boredom, through adrenaline-fuelled highs, to simple gratitude for being alive!

The Internet has played a significant role of communications with the crew - Fujitsu's global capabilities and its strapline 'The Possibilities Are Infinite', underlines the significant role that technology plays in our lives today. Whoever wins the race on Saturday will be assured of a triumphant finish - now tremendously close.


13 June 2001: Day 32 of Leg 6 at 07:43:52 GMT sees TeamSpirIT in FIRST place and leading the Race into La Rochelle.

The past few days have seen impressive improvements and the significant position change has put TeamSpirIT into the lead, with the decision to take a westerly route around the Canary Islands proving the best tactic.

The previous leader had been strongly challenged by TeamSpirIT and there is now a little over 1000 miles to the finish of this Leg, with the first of the yachts due to arrive in La Rochelle from 19 June 2001 onwards.

A northeast, force 6 wind is currently blowing, with the seas providing a rough swell. The forecast shows that the northeaster will continue to blow, as the high pressure to the west, and low to the east, remain in place. This weather pattern is maintaining a strong flow over the fleet, with the yachts to the east experiencing winds around one force stronger.

A highly charged Race is taking place, with TeamSpirIT holding onto its lead and the next three yachts very close behind. Only 8 miles separate the first and fourth positions.

For constant monitoring of this tumultuous time for TeamSpirIT, please see www.btchallenge.com

Fujitsu: The Possibilities Are Infinite

Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) is a leading provider of Internet-based information technology solutions for the global marketplace. Comprising over 500 group companies and affiliates world-wide - including ICL, Amdahl and DMR Consulting - it had consolidated revenues of 5.26 trillion yen ($49.6 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. Fujitsu's pacesetting technologies, world-class computing and telecommunications platforms, and global corps of over 60,000 systems and services experts make it uniquely positioned to unleash the infinite possibilities of the Internet to help its customers succeed. The Fujitsu Group has 188,000 employees, and operations in over 100 countries. Internet: www.fujitsu.com

Fujitsu is an inspirational company and now it sponsors an inspirational challenge. We are proud to be part of this global event, which reinforces the communications technology for which Fujitsu supplies global solutions. The Internet represents such an important part of our lives today and is an integral part of the crew's life aboard TeamSpirIT and all the yachts in the fleet.

Leading-edge communications technology plays a key role in the race, with the new yachts carrying sophisticated mobile communications facilities. An advanced video capture and digital editing system is complemented by a satellite link, enabling the crews to keep in touch by voice and email, and allowing video clips of the voyage to be recorded, edited and uploaded anytime. The videos will become an important part of the race information available on the Internet, providing an up-to-the-minute snapshot of the boats' progress and a dynamic edge to the race.


Onboard technologies

A combination of GPS equipment with BT C-Sat facilities enables each yacht's position to be tracked and transmitted on a regular basis, with the low-bandwidth C-Sat service also enabling two-way text messaging between the yachts and race headquarters in Southampton.

Higher-speed BT B-Sat facilities are provided on each yacht, allowing full duplex 64kbps data communications for the fast transfer of photographs, messages and video material. The BT B-Sat service also enables high-speed Internet access from the yachts.

Each yacht is equipped with a Mobiq Marine portable satellite telephone, communicating via a stabilised antenna housed mounted in a miniature dome on each yacht's stern. These facilities will enable crews to keep in touch with families ashore, and will also allow the press to interview skippers and crews during the race.

In addition to the onboard video capabilities, the yachts will also carry digital still cameras, enabling the crew to take good quality photographs without being dependent on chemical processing. The electronic images can be combined with text messages for media applications and transmitted very soon after being taken.