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Icom UK Support ‘Round Ireland Powerboat & RIB Challenge’

Icom has built an excellent reputation across all of its business sectors and in particular the RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) market. Icom products are chosen because of their quality and reliability and the fact that they stand up to the arduous conditions that powerboaters often face.

The leading RIB publication ‘Powerboat & RIB Magazine’, (formerly ‘RIB Magazine’), have undertaken many projects to promote and demonstrate the amazing technology used in this industry and Icom UK have always been pleased to support the magazine. The latest project that the magazine is undertaking is the Round Ireland Powerboat and RIB Challenge 2013. This will be the first time an offshore flotilla of powerboats will circumnavigate Ireland in an anti-clockwise direction. Icom UK will support the official ‘Powerboat & RIB Magazine’ boat, a special Challenge 4.9 RIB built by Ribquest for 2013 and the Round Ireland Challenge. Icom will be supplying one of the latest waterproof Icom VHF radios, the IC-M423 Compact Fixed Mount VHF/DSC. This model features Icom’s new easy to use common user interface and noise cancelling technology that is unequalled in VHF models today.

Designed to be an enjoyable social event as well as an ambitious undertaking, the Round Ireland Powerboat and RIB Challenge 2013 will be spread over a relatively generous ten days, enabling participants to appreciate the scenery en route. Leaving from Milford Haven, the boats will proceed to Kilmore Quay whereupon they will circumnavigate Ireland. The proposed course will include overnight stops in Dublin, Carrickfergus, Donegal, Newport, Kilrush, Dingle, Baltimore and Kilmore Quay itself. The event will be split into three categories – Challenge Class boats (vessels up to and including five metres LOA); Explorer Class boats (vessels from 5.01 to 7.5 metres LOA); and Adventure Class (any vessel over 7.5 metres LOA).

Hugo Montgomery-Swan, Editor Of Powerboat & RIB Magazine and organiser of this challenge said, ‘Powerboat & RIB Magazine prides itself in testing and evaluating equipment in the live environment. When though, it comes to choosing equipment for our own offshore challenge craft, such as those built for our 2011 Arctic Challenge or our 2013 Round Ireland Challenge, we don’t take any chances. We choose what we know to be reliable and well-proven – kit that will not let us down when the conditions get tough and the safety of the crew becomes reliant on the capability of the boat and its vital systems. This is why we have consistently chosen Icom VHF radios for the last 20 years.’

Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager of Icom UK Ltd said, ’Icom are the number one choice for radio communications for many events across the globe whether it be on land, air and sea. Organisers and competitors continue to put their trust in the quality and dependability that our product range offers. On behalf of everyone at Icom UK, we wish every success to those taking part in the Round Ireland Powerboat & RIB Challenge 2013.’

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk