Integrated voice, data and video services from the high seas at the Barcelona World Race

Thanks to Cisco switching technology, it is possible to receive on land, edit and produce multimedia information (photos, videos and videoconferences) in record time from the fourteen ships manned by 28 skippers that are traveling 25,000 nautical miles (46,300 km) from Barcelona to return to the same port passing through three capes (Buena Esperanza, Leeuwin and Hornos) and the Cook Strait.

Cisco has supplied the communications technology necessary to support the Barcelona World Race (BWR), the only sailing regatta around the world with two crew members per boat.

The Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona (FNOB), the entity in charge of organizing the competition, has selected Cisco as the supplier of the communications infrastructure and technology for the data center during the nearly three months that the regatta lasts, which began on December 31, 2010 and will end at the end of March 2011.

The data center is of vital importance for the FNOB, since it constitutes the nerve center where all the ship positions, images, videos as well as emergency calls are received. All the rescue centers in the world are connected to the data center, being able to access ship information immediately.

Román Welsch, Technology Director of the FNOB and Barcelona World Race. has recognized that "having a technology provider of the stature of Cisco guarantees secure communications 24x7. Its proven technology and experience are essential both for the Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona and for the sponsors of the BWR, since without said technology it would be impossible to monitor the competition."

All the technology used in the communications infrastructure is redundant to ensure the availability of communication between the ships and the organization at all times, since in addition to linking communications, audio and video, the network is always ready for any distress call made from the ships, as well as its processing to the nearest maritime rescue center.

Infrastructure

Cisco provides continuous technology support to the entire network through a highly available, redundant platform based on two Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series switches and a Unified Communications solution that provides the organization and participants with integrated voice, data and video services. The infrastructure for the data center includes Cisco 2960 and Cisco 3750 family switches and two MCS 9000 multi-layer devices (fiber switches for the data cabins).

“Thanks to Cisco switching technology, we are able to receive, edit and produce in record time the multimedia information that arrives from the ships (photos, videos and videoconferences) and thus make them reach our website, the tracking game and all the media that carry out the monitoring,” continues Welsch.

During the months of the regatta, Cisco also provides free access to the public WiFi network (based on Cisco 4400 family wireless LAN controllers) throughout the port of Barcelona. By using a centralized infrastructure, access points work in coordination, facilitating wireless access and management functions, providing access to different mobile devices and providing them with advanced security and location technology.

The Barcelona World Race, organized by the Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona (FNOB), lasts approximately three months, from December 31, 2010 until the end of this month of March, the time expected to navigate the orthodromic, the shortest route on the surface of the earth.

A total of fourteen boats manned by 28 skippers are traveling 25,000 nautical miles (46,300 km) from Barcelona to return to the same port passing through three capes (Buena Esperanza, Leeuwin and Hornos) and the Cook Strait.

The regatta can be followed in detail through this portal which offers all the news, audios, videos and photographs and from where you can consult the classifications with data on speed, evolution, course and weather conditions updated four times a day. Evolution can also be followed by graphic interface integrated into a world map, as well as through a 3D online game where you can compete in real time with the participants.

The first edition of the Barcelona World Race was held in 2007/08, and the third edition is planned for 2014. It is a non-stop regatta in which external help is allowed although subject to certain rules (penalties).