When Iridium launched the model last September we wrote:

“No matter how hot, new (untested) tech is not always the smartest choice for an important, hard and costly expedition. If you are going the distance – leaving early November and skiing all the way to the Pole – we would not recommend the new Iridium 9575 as a first choice. Stick to the 9555 or 9505A but do bring 9575 as a backup to play with until all the usual tech glitches have been ironed out.”

Turns out this was a good advice.

Not the first time

Although the latest issue has been known to Iridium for 4 months or longer, visiting Iridium website at the time of this publishing we find continued recommendations to military and Everest climbers to buy the Iridium 9575 extreme. No mention about the recall.

It’s not the first time Iridium sent out badly tested units and continue selling them despite being made aware of problems. At the launch of Iridium model 9505A polar skiers reported serious issues with charging, something Iridium denied for months before admitting they knew about the issues early on.

Iridium’s mail to resellers

Here goes the mail in full:

“As a follow-up to last week’s Iridium Extreme® communication, we have identified the root cause of the issue and are now able to provide you the following update. A mechanical element on the antenna stem that triggers a deployment sensor has insufficient tolerances which is leading to instances of the sensor not working as designed. We have traced the problem to a vendor manufacturing process and have worked with this vendor to stop the issue from occurring in future production. This issue is isolated to the Iridium Extreme and does not affect the Iridium® 9555.

Unfortunately, we estimate a significant number of shipped units are impacted. We have identified several impacts to the use of the phone. One possible result of this mechanical issue is that a customer is still able to make calls and send messages but the phone’s performance may be reduced even if the antenna is fully extended. Another possible result is that the unit may operate at a power level exceeding the equipment’s authorized FCC radio frequency limits unless the antenna is fully extended.

This issue may not impact all units; however, due to the nature of the issue, it is difficult to determine which units are affected through standard screening processes. Therefore, Iridium strongly requests that partners return all Iridium Extreme phones for replacement. This includes unsold inventory as well as sold and fielded equipment. Partners should not sell existing inventory and should request that customers immediately stop using the phone and return them for replacement. Additionally, the handset may operate at power levels above its authorized limit when the phone is in use and the antenna is stowed (in the retracted or lowered position). Partners should remind customers who use the phone out of necessity until replaced about proper handset use, particularly ensuring the antenna is extended during all calls.

We are happy to report that we have implemented the fix for this issue and are restarting production immediately. We are very confident that Iridium Extreme phones manufactured going forward will perform to specification and be of high level production quality.”

Anyone interested may reply to me @ Billboes@me.com or my mobile number is
+1 (703) 887-9542
Bill Billy

“I welcome the current discussion about ocean rowing records. Following consultation with Kenneth Crutchlow at the Ocean Rowing Society International, I believe that the proposed solution of having two classes of ocean rowing boat is a great improvement over what has been the previous state of affairs. By having two classes it means that we as a sport welcome future innovation in boat design whilst still allowing those rowing in more traditional boat designs to compete for world records and recognition amongst boats of the same class.

I have discussed with Kenneth about formation of a committee [to be named before mid-April] to both try and agree on a set of rules which define whether a boat can be included in the Classic class. Also the committee would sit when approached by a prospective ocean rower seeking clarification on their design of ocean rowing boat before construction begins. I am extremely optimistic that by having a committee to define the classic class boats and to advise future ocean rowers on their boat designs that together we can move the sport forwards to the benefit of all.”

Chris Martin – Ocean rower (and AOR co-founder / webman)

UPDATE REGARDING THE ANNUAL BALL – SATURDAY MAY 12th

We are now ready to start receiving payment for your places at the dinner ball. There are still a few places available so if you would like to join us now is the time to do something about it! We have decided to go ticketless as it keeps costs down and reduces administration. This way we can ensure maximum proceeds go to the charity.

How it will work: -

1. Please make payment of £35 per person
by cheque payable to ‘Orlando Rogers Charitable Trust’  - send to our treasurer Nikki Holter at 1 Sandygate Mill, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3PD

OR

Pay directly into the ‘Orlando Rogers Charitable Trust’ at HSBC, Sort Code 40-37-36 Account Number 22123282

Please ensure your payment to the bank specifies your name otherwise we will not know who has paid and who hasn’t.

2. Your name is added to the guest list
On receipt of your payment we will send you an email acknowledging receipt and confirming your seat at the ball.  Please print this email and bring with you to the ball.   On arrival at the Berry Head Hotel – your name will be checked off the guest list.

3. Information we need from you

• Your email address and other contact information
• It is very important that we have the names of all guests attending, so if for example one person is ordering 4 tickets please provide the names of all those 4 people attending.
• Any seating requests
• Any requests for a vegetarian main course option.  The booked menu is on our website at http://orlandorogerstrust.org

The people who kindly already registered their interest in attending will have their places retained safely on the guest list (providing of course that payment is made fairly soon) and will be contacted directly by email.

Payment can also be made in person to any of the organisers – Nikki Holter, George Disney, John Henley or Julia Rogers.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and to sharing a great evening together on Saturday May 12^th.  Each guest attending will have one free entry into the raffle included in the cost of your  ‘ticketless ticket’!

Thanking you all so much for supporting this event and treasuring the spirit and ethos of Orlando.  His legacy of great achievements and ability to inspire others remains with us.  Help us to safeguard this legacy in his honour and memory, knowing the Big O would be proud of us – cracking on and giving back to society and having fun.

http://orlandorogerstrust.org/workspace/logo.png

Click here to visit the New Ocean Wave – Free resources webpage.

Many people can barely stand a few hours sat comfortably on a plane crossing the Atlantic. Two men, David Whiddon and Lloyd Figgins decided to take the ultimate challenge and cross from Morocco to Barbados in a rowing boat (of course!). Supporting one of the most important maritime charities in the UK – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution which depends on the generosity of the public – they set sail way back in December; after sixty one gruelling days they have finally met the Atlantic challenge. Congratulations David & Lloyd.

A Unique Challenge

Early delays (customs and weather issues which often delay adventurers) behind them the team set off from Morocco to Barbados on the 19th December 2011. The challenge was made even more exciting when the original plan to row to Antigua was aborted on weather advice and the final destination became Barbados. Success would now make the pair the first to ever row this route.

When you combine the fact that this crossing is unique with the fact that fewer people have crossed the Atlantic in a rowing boat than have scaled Everest (Source: Virgin Money Giving) that should give you some idea of the enormity of the challenge. Three thousand nautical miles rowing in gruelling two hour shifts while the other rests. It could have taken up to one hundred days, but David and Lloyd were successful in sixty one. All this amounts to a truly unique achievement.

Few Could Even Imagine The Conditions Faced

The open seas are wild, dangerous and the weather conditions can be outright horrific. Great liners have fallen prey to mother nature and to underestimate the mental resolve required to face these challenges would be to not do justice to the awesome achievement of the Atlantic Calling mission.

At the halfway stage the brutal heat during the day preventing rest, low light from the moon at night slowing progress, hallucinations and a constant barrage of waves combined to create conditions way beyond anything those on dry land will ever experience. It’s no wonder the pair were struggling to control their minds.

“Deliriousness has set in this week due to their lack of sleep. Whilst Dave was on rowing duty, he got distracted by the thought of food and somehow set about trying to make a jacket potato. Frustration set in when he couldn’t work out why his potato wouldn’t cook. Lloyd eventually pointed out that Dave had neither a potato nor an oven in which to cook it in!”
Source: Atlantic Calling Official Blog

Eating, Drinking And Sleeping At Sea

Preparing to survive in a 7 metre space for one hundred days is quite a challenge. The boat itself is hand crafted and when fully loaded at the start of the challenge will displace one tonne. Everything from cooking to making fresh water from salt water must be taken care of. Much of what was achieved in the last sixty one days was possible only through the use of technology. The crew on a mission like this must be able to take apart, and repair much of this equipment in the event of failure. When you think that the emergency water supply would only last twenty five days (whilst heavily rationed) there wouldn’t be much scope for success in the challenge if some of this technology failed early.

The aim of a challenge like this is naturally that the rowers are self-sufficient throughout. As a result all of the huge amount of food (up to eight thousand calories per day) they will consume must be loaded from the start of the journey. As you can see from their official ‘menu’ the diet consists of a lot of food that can easily be re-hydrated but in it’s dry form naturally weighs less – important when considering how much food must be loaded into the vessel – this vessel is just seven metres long not a huge liner designed for Northern Europe cruises.

“A daily menu will probably look like this:-

Porridge for breakfast,
High energy snacks throughout the day,
Instant soup/crackers and cheese spread for lunch,
Rehydrated meal and dessert for dinner,
Electrolyte drinks throughout the day and night.”
Source: Atlantic Calling

A Little Charity Goes A Long Way

The two crew undertook this challenge for a great charity but one that many outside the UK will know less about. A full £24,000 is required to train all the volunteers that are needed to man one lifeboat station. That station will save countless lives at sea. The RNLI depend entirely on contributions from the public and in their massive achievement David and Lloyd have not only achieved a true first in Atlantic crossings but have done a lot to increase the profile of this essential charity. Our respect goes out to the guys.

I’m here in the office at (505) 989-7100 x 3212.

Alex Heard
aheard@outsidemag.com
Twitter: @alexheard

Saturday 12th May at the Berry Head Hotel, Brixham, Devon
From 7.30pm onwards.

Limited availability – to reserve your ticket please register your interest by emailing orlandorogerstrust@gmail.com giving your name, contact details and number of tickets required.

Further details including price and menu to follow shortly.