Iridium Communications’ new-generation maritime high bandwidth satellite communication service, Iridium (News - Alert) OpenPort, was used by participants in the recently completed Cap Odyssee Challenge.

The Challenge was taken up by three young women -- Stephanie Geyer-Barneix, Alexandra Lux and Flora Manciet -- who paddled in relays to cover the distance between Cape Breton, Canada to Capbreton, France in 54 days. These courageous women became the first to cross the North Atlantic Ocean on paddleboards.

Yves Parlier, skippered the support vessel for the North Atlantic crossing, and expressed their delight with the performance and capabilities of the Iridium OpenPort system. This supportive solution served as the primary communication link for the team during the voyage.

According to a press release, Iridium, SeaMobile Europe and Thales Alenia Space joined hands to provide Iridium OpenPort equipment and services for the support vessel accompanying the UCAR Cap Odyssee Challenge.

The crew also used SeaMobile’s unique ClipWay software package, which allowed the crew to compress and transmit photos and video files from the boat through the Iridium OpenPort terminal.

Parlier noted the excellent voice quality was excellent, and is thankful to SeaMobile's ClipWay software that enabled them to easily send video and photos through the satellites using the 128 kbps datalink.

"Thanks to Iridium, SeaMobile and Thales (News - Alert) Alenia Space, we were able to sustain our enthusiasm and overcome our weariness by phoning friends and families and reading daily encouraging e-mails from our many supporters in Canada and France," the three paddleboard competitors said. "This played an important role in the successful completion of our beautiful and exciting adventure."

The high-bandwidth Iridium OpenPort technology has been designed to meet the increasing demand for cost-effective high-capacity voice and data communications for ships and boats at sea, said Don Thoma (News - Alert), executive vice president of marketing, Iridium.

"We were very pleased to work with Iridium and SeaMobile Europe to provide the latest in marine satellite communications technology for this record-setting expedition," said Marjorie Thary, satcom systems architect, Thales Alenia Space. "The Iridium OpenPort system made it possible for the crew to send daily reports from the boat and to obtain weather forecasts along their route, an important consideration for the safety of the paddleboarders."