Closer Calls In Open Water Swimming
Contemporary civilian Global Positioning System (GPS) devices can be off by 5 meters or more. Reportedly in May, the United States Air Force will beging launching the 11F generation of GPS satellites that will each transmit three civilian GPS signals that will enable GPS signals to be accurate within 1 meter.
Great news for open water swimmers who want precise information on their whereabouts and pace during training if they place a Garmin Forerunner 305 device under their swim caps (a hint of what to do is here).
After the GPS data on their swims are uploaded to MotionBased and overlaid on Google Maps, swimmers can learn their speed, distance and navigational course.
It is nice to be precise.
Photo above shows one of Jen Schumacher‘s Catalina Channel training swims.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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