We’ve been saying it for a while: RTK GPS is a game-changer for sailboat race management. With centimeter-level accuracy, it’s enabling fairer and more efficient starts.
But don’t just take our word for it.
In a recent Sailing World feature, NYYC Race Committee Chair Forrest Williams shares his firsthand experience with the Velocitek system—and explains why he believes this technology represents a major leap forward for the sport.
📖 Read the full article on Sailing World
Shaped by Experts, Built in San Mateo
The story behind the story is one of relentless innovation—and in-house manufacturing. Yes, in-house manufacturing. We assemble our electronics in San Mateo, California. That gives us the ability to prototype, test, and refine at a pace most hardware companies can only dream of.
Over the course of development, we built and tested multiple different versions of the ProStart circuit board, experimenting with system connectivity and GPS performance. Why multiple iterations? Because we control the entire process—right down to running our own pick-and-place machine and assembling our own circuit boards.
We didn’t just build a product. We built expertise.
We’ve tried it all—L1 GPS, L1/L5 multi-band GPS, differential corrections, internal and external antennas—and we’ve seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. So when we say RTK is the real deal, we’re not just backing our own tech. We’re speaking from deep, hands-on experience shaped by expert feedback. We know exactly how these systems behave in real-world race management conditions. And we know, without a doubt, that RTK is the right technology for the job.
The breakthrough came when we moved the GPS antenna outside the box.
Mounting a large, remote antenna on the transom gave us a clear view of the sky—and the ability to receive both differential and RTK corrections. Differential GPS offered marginal improvement, but the jump to RTK was dramatic: accuracy improved from ±1 meter to under 2 centimeters.
That’s when everything started to click.
And from that insight, we boiled the concept down to its simplest, most reliable form: the RTK Puck.
Final Thoughts
We’re proud of the technology we’ve built—but even prouder of the community that helped shape it. This system wasn’t created in a vacuum. It was developed in collaboration with the people who passionately organize and run great regattas—people who care deeply about fairness, accuracy, and the integrity of the sport.
We’re especially grateful to the New York Yacht Club for providing tightly controlled test fleets, expert volunteers, professional staff, and honest feedback throughout the process.
The early tests are promising, and we’re excited to see the RTK Pucks continue to prove themselves where it matters most: on the start line.
When we talk about RTK as a game-changer, it’s not hype—it’s hard-won conviction. We’ve tried every alternative, put in the hours, run the tests, and lived through the tradeoffs. RTK isn’t just what we’re working on—it’s what works.
We’re just getting started. If you’re as passionate about the future of race management as we are, follow along—we’ll be sharing more from the water soon.