In 2026, satellite communications and onboard IT equipment have radically changed the approach to long ocean passages. To take stock of the equipment suited to the different situations that participants in the 2026 edition of the Pacific Puddle Jump may encounter, we spoke with Nicolas de La Héronnière, an airplane pilot who will soon embark on a Pacific crossing, and David Allouch, founder of Sail Tahiti and organizer of the PPJ.
At sea, even when discussing highly technical topics, seamanship always prevails. David Allouch therefore reminds us that the objective is to “be able to communicate from anywhere and in all circumstances. You don’t communicate in the same way when you’re at a sublime anchorage chatting with family as when you’re climbing into your life raft!”
For daily communication, as well as receiving weather updates, solving technical issues, or anticipating after-sales service needs, the Starlink antenna has become the unanimous choice. Coverage and high-speed internet have clearly revolutionized offshore sailing. On his Excess 14 named Pelican, Nicolas de la Héronnière, registered for the Pacific Puddle Jump 2026, opted for the Starlink Mini antenna powered by 24V with an unlimited plan at €110 per month, but limited to within 12 nautical miles of the coast.
The subscription therefore does not cover major ocean crossings, during which both sailors switch to Ocean Mode and are billed per gigabyte used. In that case, Starlink use is reserved exclusively for downloading weather files. “On the transatlantic crossing, we used 20 GB,” says the skipper of Pelican, who remains cautious, adding that “Starlink has its own way of counting gigabytes.”
Anticipating all situations
The former Canadair pilot also considered how to call for help (CROSS, MRCC…) from the middle of the ocean. For this, he uses the OVH Softcall VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) app. “It allows you to call any landline number in the world via the Starlink connection,” he explains. David Allouch, for his part, notes that with the advent of Starlink, “WhatsApp has become the simplest way to communicate.” Personalized weather analyses sent to participants who requested them are shared via this platform, which also allows video calls.
However, the skipper of Pelican reminds us that while “Starlink is undeniably a comfort element, it is not a safety device, especially if we were forced to abandon the boat.” Without going to such extremes, David Allouch points out that in the event of an electrical blackout, a satellite phone such as an Iridium, which consumes very little power, is ideal. This also means knowing how to use your routing software with Iridium.
In addition, Nicolas de la Héronnière acquired a Garmin InReach Mini, a geolocation beacon that also allows sending text messages, notably one’s position. This prompts David Allouch to recall that beyond the essential fixed VHF with a masthead antenna and a backup antenna, “a portable VHF with a charged battery and a spare one in a waterproof bag” remains a key safety element. Be careful: remote handheld units do not replace a portable VHF, because if the main VHF fails, the second handset will no longer work.
Essential redundancy
For navigation, redundancy is once again the key principle. “At a minimum, you should have a chart plotter and a backup of this system on a phone or tablet,” recommends the PPJ organizer. In addition to the Garmin plotter, the crew of Pelican installed a Mac Mini. “Made of anodized aluminum, it resists the marine environment very well and can stay on permanently because it consumes very little power,” unlike the beautiful 27-inch screen, which should be turned off when not in use.
In the event of a general failure — if computers and plotters were struck by lightning, for example — “we have the iPad and iPhones as backup.” The computer is connected to the boat’s data (GPS position, speed, wind…), “which allows us to use navigation software.” After evaluating all available options on the market (Adrena Octopus, TimeZero, Weather 4D), they chose OpenCPN for navigation and qtVlm for routing.
While these programs have the advantage of being free, Nicolas admits that “they are not intuitive to use, and computer engineers have an advantage.” But on a daily basis, access to precise and reliable weather data is what matters most. In addition to an annual subscription for full access to Windy, the skipper opted for the basic level of PredictWind ($29/year) to feed Grib files into the routing software.
Along the way, David Allouch offers a piece of advice that can be very useful: continue to plot your position on a paper chart at least every twelve hours. This ensures that in the event of a total electronic or electrical failure, you still know your last position and can orient yourself — or guide rescuers. Moreover, a paper chart provides a different perspective from electronic charts, where it’s easy to zoom too much or too little, making it harder to judge safe distances. On this topic, the PPJ organizer recalls that “in the French Navy, we had the thumb rule, which works regardless of the chart scale: you should always stay at least a thumb’s width away from the coastline.”
Redundancy — in both navigation and communication systems — is truly the key to a calm transpacific crossing, with equipment that you fully understand and trust. Reliability is also crucial, as David Allouch reminds us that you must “be certain before departure that your electronics will last the duration of the voyage. It’s better to replace them beforehand than to break down in the middle of the Pacific.” Finally, as a true sailor, he adds that you must “not forget to look outside,” because “not all Tuamotu coral heads are visible on Google Earth!” Better safe than sorry.
