Rowing team to use ALGIZ 10X for 3,000-mile Atlantic Ocean race

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is an unsupported 3,000-mile race from the Canary Islands to Antigua, widely considered to be one of the toughest sporting challenges on the planet. A four-person crew from the Isle of Wight, England, is currently preparing and training for the race in its aptly named boat, Wight Lightning, and is using the Algiz 10X on board. 

“The Atlantic Ocean is an extreme environment to live in for 50 to 90 days; rain, 40-foot waves and strong winds make the boat a very wet place to be,” says crew member Will Whitehead. “Electronics typically fail from degradation caused by salty air and water. The crew therefore rely on rugged tech such as the Algiz 10X to do anything from writing blog posts to strategizing routes using weather and charting software.” 

The powerful Algiz 10X is a rugged tablet computer built from the inside out to withstand some of the world’s harshest environmental conditions. It’s protected against water, drops, vibrations, extreme temperatures and humidity, boasting an IP65 rating and compliance with MIL-STD-810G U.S. military standards for ruggedness. It has a 10.1-inch high-brightness capacitive touchscreen and weighs less than 3 pounds. 

“We’ve taken the tablet out on two training sessions and already we’re beginning to see that it makes navigating on deck much more convenient,” Whitehead says. “We’re looking forward to putting the Algiz 10X’s ruggedness to the test in a few weeks when we row from Cornwall to Ireland.” 

“Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean is one of the world’s most challenging and dangerous feats,” says Jerker Hellström, CEO of Handheld Group. “Strength and endurance are key qualities not only for Wight Lightning’s crew members but for the rugged computer they use onboard. We at Handheld are confident our Algiz 10X will be up to the task.” 

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge will begin in San Sebastian de la Gomera, Canary Islands in December 2017.

Follow the Wight Lightning crew on their Facebook page.