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New website for Round Ireland

5th June 2008
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Never mind the AC boat, it's the Round Ireland

The BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race, which starts in just 16 days, has received a considerable online facelift.

The new site will incorporate a GPS tracker on which readers can track the boats involved in the race in real time.

The tracker will be similar to the one used by Round Ireland entrant Leopard 3 in its recent transatlantic record bid.

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Viewers can zoom in, speed up the action and watch every move as it happens, or did happen, on the race course.

Trackers like this have been clunky in the past, however new technology means they can provide a realistic view of the action, with wind strengths and shifts all indicated.

A look back at the tracker for last year's Fastnet Race, sped up to maximum speed, makes for interesting viewing as boats head out, then beetle back into port as the heavy weather hits.

The entry list has padded out to 29 boats, with neither of the VO 70s yet fully paid and signed-up entrants.

Check out the new site here and the Leopard and Fastnet trackers here and here.

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