Tulsa, Okla. – B&G – a world leader in marine instruments, autopilot systems and tactical software solutions for the sailing market – announced today that its powerful new multifunction navigation display, Zeus, has received the 2011 Freeman K. Pittman Innovation Award from SAIL magazine. Recognized as the electronics-category winner, the Zeus system was selected by the magazine’s editors as an innovative new product that propels the sport of sailing and serves as a catalyst for growth in the industry. The winning products were on display at SAIL’s Innovation Station during the Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show, January 27-30, 2011. SAIL’s Innovation Awards honor the memory of Freeman Pittman who, for 15 years, brought his passion for innovation and technology to the readers of the magazine.
“B&G Zeus multifunction displays integrate a wide range of performance data,” said Ralph Naranjo, editor, SAIL magazine and electronics category judge. “The Zeus Z8 and Z12 have been optimized for use on sailboats and include a full suite of navigation tools for cruising sailors.”
The feature-packed B&G Zeus is the first and only multifunction display system designed specifically for sailors, featuring bright viewing and total control of key performance and navigation electronics – charts, instruments, weather, navigation and radar. Zeus provides GRIB weather-file display and animation, along with true wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure. Users can scroll through forecasts to plan navigation consistent with conditions. Zeus’ tactical chart overlay depicts sailing laylines and indicates best and worst layline positions, allowing sailors to make better-informed navigation decisions. The system also displays a powerful WindPlot histogram, ideal for analyzing breezes, and a TimePlot histogram that provides a time-based log display including depth, barometric pressure and boat speed for trend tracking. In addition, Zeus offers full integration with GPS, award-winning Broadband Radar™, Automatic Identification System (AIS), weather, entertainment and digital switching.
Featuring seamless compatibility with B&G’s renowned H3000 instruments, the new Zeus system delivers sailing-specific navigation functionality and has an ultra-bright, sunlight-viewable display, unparalleled chart redraw speed, and a smart menu-driven user interface.
“With Zeus, we have developed a complete navigation system that is designed to provide sailors with dedicated sailing features, an easy-to-learn user interface and industry-leading expansion capabilities in an attractive multifunction display,” said Louis Chemi, chief operating officer, Navico Americas. “The Freeman K. Pittman Innovative Award is a tremendous honor and validates that our goals for this product were met. It is a game-changing technology that gives sailing cruisers and club racers the best performance on the water.”
The Z12 and Z8 models have suggested retail prices of US $4,995 and $3,695, respectively, and are available from authorized B&G dealers and distributors throughout the United States and Canada. For more information on the B&G Zeus navigation system, compatible technology or the entire line of B&G marine electronics, visit www.bandg.com.
