Iridium OpenPort(R), the newgen maritime high bandwidth satellite communication service from Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM), won rave reviews from the participants in the recently completed Cap Odyssee Challenge.

"We were very pleased with the performance and capabilities of the Iridium OpenPort system, which served as our primary communication link during the voyage," said Yves Parlier, who skippered the support vessel for the North Atlantic crossing. Iridium and SeaMobile Europe teamed with Thales Alenia Space to provide Iridium OpenPort equipment and services for the support vessel accompanying the UCAR Cap Odyssee Challenge, which concluded August 28 when three young French women successfully became the first to cross the North Atlantic Ocean on paddleboards. SeaMobile also provided its unique ClipWay(R) software package, which permitted the crew to compress and transmit photos and video files from the boat through the Iridium OpenPort terminal.

The three young women — Stephanie Geyer-Barneix, Alexandra Lux and Flora Manciet — departed from Cape Breton, Canada, on July 5, and arrived at Capbreton, France, 54 days later. Paddling in relays, they averaged some 100 kilometers per day. "Thanks to Iridium, SeaMobile and Thales 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 UCAR Cap Odyssee Challenge provided an excellent showcase for our new high-bandwidth Iridium OpenPort technology, which was introduced last year to meet the increasing demand for cost-effective high-capacity voice and data communications for ships and boats at sea," said Don Thoma, executive vice president of marketing, Iridium. "It provides three independent phone circuits and a separate scalable, high-speed data port, all of which can be used simultaneously without interference. The compact lightweight antenna, which has no moving parts, installs quickly and easily on vessels of all sizes."