Fast Find PLB windsurfs from Key West to Havana

French engineer Martin Gaveriaux is attempting to windsurf from Key West in Florida to Havana, Cuba, and will be carrying three vital safety items, flares, a VHF radio and a McMurdo Fast Find 210 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

Although Martin will be accompanied by a safety boat, carrying the Fast Find means that if he gets into difficulties he can activate the PLB’s distress signal and be confident of rapid assistance.

The crossing is over a distance of 90 miles and the 24 year old expects to cover the distance on his Olympic Class RSX. Martin is looking for a weather window between 1st and 8th February to start his attempt in the best conditions.

Martin already holds a number of French windsurfing championship titles and is currently ranked no. 33 in the world. When he is not windsurfing, Martin specialises in hydrodynamic engineering and has supported the development of fast trimarans including the monster globetrotting Groupama.

Commenting on his Fast Find, Martin says “It’s easy to carry the Fast Find since it is so compact. With it I feel confident that if I got into bad conditions and get separated from my support boat I can rely on getting help fast”.

The McMurdo manufactured Fast Find 210 PLB is the most versatile 406 MHz personal PLB on the market. Fast Find is fully waterproof to 10 metres, is 106mm long and weighs just 150g. It will slip into the smallest pocket or back pack compartment. Fast Find operates on the global COSPAS SARSAT 406MHz search and rescue satellite communication system, which is supported by international government search and rescue authorities around the world, so a call for help will be acted upon and fast. Fast Find is subscription free and does not rely on commercial call centres. It has integral 50-channel GPS for additional pinpoint location, further speeding up time of location. Once activated, Fast Find signals will continue to transmit for at least 24 hours, at a powerful 5 watt output, the 406 MHz transmission ensures that a call for help gets through whatever the conditions.