CLS, one of the Technology Partners of the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006, equips all participating yachts with Argos transmitters.

CLS ARGOS transmitters will be used to track the progress of the 72 competitors in Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006. Each yacht is equipped with a MAR YX transmitter. This transmitter is the first component of the Argos system that includes a constellation of 6 satellites, 40 antennas and 5 data processing centres. The Argos tracking beacon transmits regular messages enabling the location of the equipped yachts. With this information, the Race Organisation is able to establish the position of each yacht and this in turn improves the skipper’s safety at sea and provides interesting information for the event website, rolexmiddlesearace.com.

This is the fifth time that CLS has provided the tracking system for yachts in this race. CLS is the worldwide leader of data collection and location by satellite. It provides and checks personally the installation, the waterproofing and autonomy of all transmitters on each yacht.

The Argos tracking beacon transmits a message to a satellite, which sends it to land based antennas. Then this message is received by the CLS processing centre, operational 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

The centre in Toulouse decodes the messages and delivers the results to the Race Organisation.

Within this context, CLS works in close collaboration with Cnes, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Eumetsat, (Organisation for the Exploitation of meteorological satellites).

CLS is particularly attached to adventurers such as the crew on board of the ABN AMRO One in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, extreme explorers like Jean-Louis Etienne, scientific travelers like Stephan Levin or navigators like Maud Fontenoy. CLS equips all of them and continuously tracks their progress.