It’s easy to forget that until recently, the ease of keeping in touch as effortlessly and affordably as we do now, was something we could only dream of. And unlike many of us who use this modern luxury to keep in touch with family or friends, for the crew on the offshore racing boat “Ms. Barbados”, seamless communication is a matter of safety and performance.
LEFT TO RIGHT: On board MS Barbados Captain Ned Wakefield updating a
Barbados-bound Tony Lawson as he travels on Virgin Atlantic flight #VS29.
As the MOD 70 racing catamaran negotiated the choppy Atlantic crossing en route to Grenada, as a competitor in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Transatlantic Race, Captain Ned Wakefield decided it was time to call Tony Lawson, CEO of Team Concise Yachts, for an important update via his satellite phone. Little did he know that Tony was soaring 35,000 feet above him on Virgin Atlantic’s flight VS29, bound for Barbados. “When my mobile phone rang,” said Tony, “I didn’t know who was more surprised, the stewardess or me. Trying to be as nonchalant as possible – like people called me in the sky everyday, I answered. Ned thought I was at Team Concise’s headquarters in Haslemere, England. He was calling to let me know that Ms. Barbados was romping along at an impressive 28 knots, and was about 14 hours from the race finish line off St. Georges, Grenada.” Ms. Barbados eventually placed second in the race. “I’m happy that Tony and his team could benefit from our mobile telephone network on board the aircraft,” said Andre Bello, Head of Caribbean – Commercial, for Virgin Atlantic. “We know whether our passengers need to disconnect from work and enjoy a movie and a cocktail, or plan for the big meeting they’re on their way to, we have them sorted. Work or play.” Virgin Atlantic is a sponsor of the Ms. Barbados racing team, continuing their involvement in the development of sports in the region.
The Ms. Barbados racing boat is an initiative of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), and will compete in Mount Gay’s 2016 racing programme. The “Around Barbados Race”, a three-day coastal course race and the Barbados to Antigua ocean race. William Griffith, CEO of BTMI shared, “I wish to extend a sincere thank you to Virgin Atlantic who have been extremely supportive of our efforts to develop this niche. They have worked alongside us on numerous projects, including the current initiatives with Team Concise and Cornell Sailing. We cannot thank them enough for their commitment to the sport.”
The Ms. Barbados racing boat is an initiative of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), and will compete in Mount Gay’s 2016 racing programme. The “Around Barbados Race”, a three-day coastal course race and the Barbados to Antigua ocean race. William Griffith, CEO of BTMI shared, “I wish to extend a sincere thank you to Virgin Atlantic who have been extremely supportive of our efforts to develop this niche. They have worked alongside us on numerous projects, including the current initiatives with Team Concise and Cornell Sailing. We cannot thank them enough for their commitment to the sport.”