3,400 hours of television footage, 13,038 newspaper articles and 20 million radio listeners: these are the media stats for the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2008-2009. Reaching these figures would have been almost impossible without crew member number 11: the Media Crew Member.
On board “Telefónica” that role is taken up by a Spaniard from the region of Murcia, Diego Fructuoso. In “Big Brother” fashion he will be in charge of sending through material every day to detail life on board for the eleven men on the Spanish team who will be sailing more than 39,000 nautical miles in this edition of the regatta, on board the Volvo Open 70, the most extreme machine built to date for racing around the world.
Diego, who's making his début in the Volvo Ocean Race, will have the latest technology available to him, allowing him to film some spectacular footage on board. Above all he'll be able to tell the story of what it's like to live together on board when 24 hours of the day are dedicated to sailing's most extreme challenge.
24 hours on camera
Outside on board the Spanish boat four cameras and fixed microphones have been positioned so that they'll be able to capture the incredible noise generated on board the Volvo Open 70. The camera at the back of the yacht will witness the most impressive action as it will see both the two wheels commanded by Iker Martínez as well as everything that happens on “Telefónica” from stern to bow. On the mast, between the boom and the deck, at the height of the monitors indicating parameters such as sailing speed, course, force and angle of the wind etc. There will also be a second camera that will capture an overall view of the action on deck. The other two fixed cameras are positioned on the first spreader on the mast.
These will all be controlled from the Media Crew Member's 'Media Desk'I nside “Telefónica”. From the Media Desk Diego will be able to choose the shooting angles for each camera as well as making a selection of the most impressive shots taken each day.
To add to the fixed filming equipment, there is also a portable camera and mics that Fructuoso will be able to use to move freely around “Telefónica”.
The opportunity for live link-ups
In this edition of the race the organisers will also be able to link-up live with the fleet. Diego Fructuoso explains “there are three are three points on the boat where I can plug in with my camera and film live for the link-ups.” These connection points are at the bow (where the fixed camera is positioned), in the cockpit (allowing a live view of the entire stern of the boat and all the action going on there), and at the communications hub on the yacht: the Media Desk.
The Inmarsat satellite: getting a signal in the most remote corners of the planet
There will be a total of hundreds of hours of footage, as well as text, photographs and audio all prepared by Diego Fructuoso so that the most important on board experiences can be shared with all of us at home... but how does that happen?
One of the most powerful and sophisticated satellite technology systems is needed so that all of the audiovisual material reaches dry land safely: the FB 500 and FB 150, which are made for sending data and calls. The yacht also has two Inmarsat Mini-Cs working solely on positioning and sending text through to the organisers.
Everything's ready on “Telefónica” for you to enjoy minute by minute coverage of life on board the yacht.
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