Safety experts AirMarker set sail with Offshore Skipper Oliver Heer to help shorten rescue times at sea.
Swiss offshore sailor, Oliver Heer, has partnered with Swiss safety device manufacturer AirMarker AG, with the goal to reduce search and rescue times for stranded sailors.
AirMarker’s vision to significantly shorten the search for people who have had an accident or are in distress. Co-founder and CEO Rico Dürst used to work as a rescuer in search and rescue operations, where he experienced first-hand the difficulty it is to locate a missing person, especially in inhospitable locations or poor visibility.
The AirMarker product is the size of a thermos flask and can be easily carried in a back pack. A slow twist of the trigger sets off a system that releases and fills an orange balloon on a long line, which can stay in the air for up to 3 days and glows at night.
Having already established itself in the mountain sports sector with its first product “R.One” Dürst is now working on a marine-specific version, “R.Four”.
Ollie will carry an AirMarker R.Four on board his IMOCA 60 ocean racing yacht whilst sailing, training and racing, to gain feedback for further product development before the official launch of the R.Four later this year.
Ollie comments: “AirMarker is a great idea. Of course, no-one wants to be in a situation where they have to use their safety equipment, but when taking part in a dangerous sport such as ocean racing, it’s important to be aware of the risks and be prepared. The device is small and unobstructive – and knowing it can improve my visibility to search and rescue operations for up to three days is very reassuring. I am very proud to help the team at AirMarker develop and commercialise this incredible product.”
Durst adds “We are delighted to welcome Oliver Heer into our team. His experience in sailing in some of the toughest conditions in the world will help us ensure that our product is perfect for sailors around the world. With my personal experience in search and rescue, I know that this product can improve search and rescue times to help save lives and am committed to making it widely available.”
For more information on AirMarker, please visit www.airmarker.swiss