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By Greg Bartlett

GPS technology is popping up everywhere. People are using it to check in on their teen’s driving skills. Others are using it to keep their expensive machinery theft-proof. The police are using it to track suspects’ vehicles. And now GPS tracking systems have been integrated into an annual sailboat race that has been taking place in Michigan for the past 85 years.

The Bayview Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race is one of the most difficult freshwater sailboat races as well as being one of the longest. This event stretches over 4 days, during which roughly 250 sailboats will race over two courses and almost 550 miles. About 100,000 spectators will spread out along the route in Michigan and Canada, and participants come from all over the world to participate in this event. And this year, GPS tracking systems will be participating as well.

Each yacht will be equipped with a GPS tracker so that spectators will be able to track the boats as they travel along the course. The progress of the boats will be tracked live using real time tracking and updated to the host website. This allows the fans to participate in the entire race instead of the portion that they can view from their place along the shoreline.

Thanks to these GPS tracking systems, this year’s race will be much more exciting for the spectators. They will be able to watch the entire race from start to finish if they wish to through the Internet. The boats can be viewed on a Google satellite image or on an animated chart. There are several options for viewing the boats. They can be sorted by class or division or a particular boat can be selected. Each sailboat’s position, direction, and speed will be available as well as a bar that shows how much of the race has been completed. There is also a weather feature that shows the viewer what the conditions are for the sailors at that point in the race.

GPS tracking systems are no longer just for businesses and law enforcement officers. Now they are being used in sporting events to keep spectators updated and allow people from around the world to follow races from their own homes. These systems are useful in so many different ways that in just a few years they will be just another part of everyday life.