Tait Keeps Emirates Team New Zealand's Secrets Safe

As well as pushing their boat to the limits at the latest regatta in the 2006 America's Cup season in Valencia, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) is discovering the capabilities of their new state-of-the-art digital radios from Tait Electronics.

During their challenge for sport's oldest trophy Emirates Team New Zealand is using the most sophisticated of Tait's digital radios fitted with encryption, giving them the advantage of crystal clear voice communications that keeps their team secrets safe from the prying ears of competitors.

"Sailing is about using your eyes but also your ears - we need to know that when we're talking to our weather, tender and chase boat crews, they're the only people listening," says ETNZ Managing Director Grant Dalton.

Secure, reliable and dependable radios are crucial during the long America's Cup campaign. "The last thing anyone wants is for the sailing crew to have to think about any of this stuff. They need the radios to be reliable, secure and clear, each time they use them."

In an APCO P25 digital radio solution - the same type of solution Tait supplies to police and other emergency services - wind noise is removed and voice accuracy is improved.

"The difference between these radios and our last is huge. The issue of communications inside an America's Cup team is a big deal, no better highlighted when the signal is weak. Now, the voices come through booming and reliability seems perfect - a big issue solved," says Mr Dalton.

As an official ETNZ Team Supplier, Tait has provided the team with its newest range of advanced P25 digital base stations, mobiles and portables for use in tenders, chase boats and, of course, the race yachts. The encrypted equipment was installed in late 2005 and was trialled during racing preparation in Auckland before the team relocated to Valencia in March.

Tait digital radios vastly improve team communications

Mr Dalton says the Tait digital radio solution, which replaced an analogue solution with no encryption, has significantly improved team communications. "It's impossible to over-state just how great the improvement has been."

Since the equipment was installed, the team has been able to rely totally on its communications day in, day out. "Now, designers and shore crew can have discussions about technical aspects of the boats and their performance without having to worry about eavesdroppers," Mr Dalton says.

Reliable and dependable communications is vital when testing and training - and in preparation on race days. Five minutes before a race starts all communication equipment on the race yacht is put in a watertight container and thrown overboard for a chase boat crew to retrieve. "Then the yacht is on its own," he says.
"We've been using the new gear for nearly six months and we have not had a single instance of failure. The radios are easy to use, and we're able to configure them to our requirements. If a radio is lost or stolen we can disable it remotely."

Tait Electronics Managing Director Michael Chick says, "Tait's P25 digital equipment is the most sophisticated there is and it's a perfect match for the most advanced yachts in New Zealand."

"Of course, we're proud to be an official Team Supplier to Emirates Team New Zealand and we're just as proud of all the Tait people who have worked over the years to create a world-class radio solution that can meet the team's needs.

"For ETNZ, the goal is to bring back the America's Cup from Valencia next year. Whereas Tait aims to keep winning global contracts for its digital radio solutions for many years to come!"

ETNZ is using two TB9100 base stations and two TM9100 mobiles on its tender and a TM9100 mobile is installed on each of three chase boats and three weather boats. On board the yachts, crew members are communicating with about 26 TP9100 portable radios.