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Solo challenge sailor to tweet via Inmarsat

A sailor is using Inmarsat's IsatPhone Pro satellite phone to keep in touch with supporters during a solo round Britain and Ireland challenge.

Alan Rankin is raising money for charity by sailing more than 2,000 nautical miles around the coastline and completing a 10km run at each of ten ports he will be visiting along the way.

The experienced yachtsman has just started his journey from Ullapool aboard his trimaran Trade Winds and is heading to the Shetland Isles before heading south to the English Channel.

Twitter updates

“The satphone will be my vital link with the shore crew as I check in every six hours,” said Alan, who has been supplied with an IsatPhone Pro by Inmarsat partner Global Telesat Communications (GTC).

“Each check will allow me to get weather updates, to confirm my position and provide a general update on conditions aboard Trade Winds.”

GTC Sales and Marketing Manager Jenna Phipps said: “Alan will be keeping everybody regularly updated during his voyage through Twitter.

Renewable resources

“We recommended IsatPhone Pro as it is the only satellite phone that has its own Twitter menu and is able to send and receive tweets via its SMS functionality.”

Alan is raising money for five charities – Parkinson's UK, Cancer Research UK, MS Society, British Heart Foundation and Ocean Youth Trust Scotland.

He plans only to use renewable resources –such as wind and solar power – and food and drink from sustainable producers in the UK during his voyage.

It is the former Scottish decathlon champion's second solo challenge in the past few years. He has already successfully completed a challenge to sail and cycle around Scotland raising money for charity.