NEWS:
Launch!
The RockBox BLUE
Read all about our newest product here!
Available in limited quantities as we ramp up production
Progress!
Good news!
We have been able to source everything for the new RockBox! We are using sensors with the highest resolution available, and apparently everyone else (globally) wants these too. Not wanting to compromise with the new RockBox, we searched suppliers throughout the world and found the parts we need! Everything is kicked off, we are now just waiting on components to arrive. The new RockBox will be available for purchase in about 4 weeks.
Thanks to everyone for your patience! You won't be disappointed!
Good news and Bad news....
Bad news first: We're running about 1 month behind on our launch schedule due to some sourcing issues. The gyroscope we selected has become rare as all available inventory was purchased before we could get to it!
Good news: Gyroscope, did we say gyroscope? Yes, the new RockBox will have an optional magnetic compass, stabilized electronically through an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that includes a gyroscope. This is great news if you prefer magnetic heading versus the Course Over Ground (COG) that is displayed by a unit that relies solely on a GPS.
Stay tuned for more frequent updates as we get closer to launch!
Here's some info on the new RockBox!
Hardware:
Firmware:
more details to come as launch approaches!
Congratulations to UKA UKA Racing on their THIRD consecutive Melges 24 World Championship!!!
UKA UKA Racing is: Lorenzo Bressani, Lorenzo Santini, Jonathan McKee, Favio Gridelli, Federico Michetti
Of course they race RockBox equipped!...
Here's the official press release
Firmware 3.5 is Here! |
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We spent the summer working to make the RockBox work better where it counts, under pressure on the water!
This is the same firmware used by the crews that won the 2010 Melges 24 World Championship and 2010 Melges 32 World Championship !!!
Changes for firmware version 3.5:
Video Tutorials!
We don't like reading manuals and guides either! So, we made some video tutorials to walk you step by step through:
Top three at Melges 32 Worlds are RockBox equipped!
Congratulations to B-Lin Racing on their World Championship
Top Three Results
1.) Luca Lalli/Lorenzo Bressani, B-lin Sailing
2.) John Porter/Jonathan McKee, Full Throttle
3.) Jeff Ecklund/Harry Melges III, STAR
Lorenzo Bressani & Uka Uka Racing Win 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship!
RockBox Equipped!
In fact, the top 3 boats were all RockBox equipped!
Congratulations to the owner and crew of B-Lin Sailing, overall winners of the 2010 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series!
RockBox equipped, of course!
Rock City Marine is pleased to announce our new distributor in the EU:
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via Tucidide 56 (staz 21) 20134 Milano Italy tel +39 02 94435078 fax +39 02 94435079 email: info@melgeseurope.com |
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The team at Melges Europe is great to work with, knows what racers need, and uses the RockBox on their own very successful rides. They will support all individual and dealer sales in the European Union.
We also have a new address: www.RockBox.eu.com, and an online store for the EU is coming soon!
While its still cold here in Detroit, the RockBox is out having fun where its warm
Photo credit: Joy Dunigan
Happy New Year from the team at Rock City Marine!
While you're recovering from your new year's eve festivities, take a look at a something new, the biplane foiling cat by Arnie Duckworth:
YouTube videos: Sailing upwind and another beat Here's an article, and a link to the big picture. VERY COOL!!! (and its RockBox equiped!) |
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Congratulations to the crew of Nice Pair on their results in this year's SuperMac (564 miles, starting in Chicago, through the finish line of the Chicago to Mac race and continuing down to Port Huron) and Port Huron to Mackinac Races!
First Place: Chicago to Mackinac
Second Place: SuperMac
First Place: Port Huron to Mackinac
Here's an exerpt from Sailing Anarchy's own Mr. Clean, who did the SuperMac onboard Nice Pair:
"Old Faithful
On our final 50-mile run into Port Huron, our instruments crapped out. I knew it was coming, because our charging capabilities on Nice Pair frankly suck. A pair of beat-up solar panels and two outboards that need to be lowered partially into the water to send out a weak charge from anemic alternators just couldn't keep up with the juice that my 450W inverter was chewing up all the time to keep our media operation running. So we turned to an old standby - the same RockBox that we demo'd two years ago when the unit first came out. Like a Velocitek, the RockBox gives course, speed and a bunch of other tools to the driver/navigator on a huge screen with a backlight, and we relied solely on the little Detroit-area invention to judge lifts and knocks as we beat along the Western Lake Huron shore...." reprinted with permission of Sailing Anarchy, Inc.
It was great to hear that the RockBox helped in their round of top finishes!
MAST BRACKETS ARE HERE!
Click this link for more info!
You can get one at the online store!
After going through a few suppliers, searching for the parts to make it right, and countless design revisions, we are really close to having our mast brackets ready to go, here's a preview:
There are two sizes of this design on the way, as well as a bracket to go into a main luff groove.
Stay tuned for more info!!!
04/08/2009: Rock City Marine is pleased to announce the launch of its latest firmware!
This is the third firmware upgrade in less than a year, we're constantly working to make the RockBox the best unit available!
With this release, you get:
Click here to find out more about the new functions
Current RockBox owners, click here to download the new firmware and Commander PC software
The RockBox is BACK BACK BACK in stock!
Visit the online store to get one headed your way!
12/18/2008: The RockBox is SOLD OUT!
Supply did not keep up with demand this holiday season
More RockBox AMPDs will be available mid January
The staff at Rock City Marine would like to wish everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS
There's a new product out there that you need to check out:
In our opinion, this is the BEST software for viewing your RockBox AMPD log files. Its 3D, you can choose different viewing angles, it changes sails for upwind and downwind legs, and you can load multiple log files to watch the whole fleet!
Read more about it here! or go right to their website here!
The guys at TCReplay aren't just software gurus, they race and know what racers want to see!
Here's what a few of our customers have had to say about the RockBox:
Short and to the point:
"Got the Box, Worked Flawlessly, Kicked- Ass."
Already have an instrument system? Compared to what it takes to get to a big race, a RockBox is cheap insurance against sailing blind due to the main system going out:
"The Rockbox was great. I used it in Annapolis NOOD. The person on my boat using it didn't even bother with the manual. He played with it for 5 minutes and was comfortable with it from then on. We generally kept it on split screen with speed and course. As it turns out my knotmeter wasn't working so I'm glad I brought the Rockbox ( it was the first sail of the season so I didn't know the knotmeter wasn't working)."
The RockBox A.M.P.D. is BACK! and ready to ship
Please let us know, if the store gives you any trouble
We've also added 2 new functions!!!
We've also added a feature that lets you choose to automatically start the data log after the countdown timer hits zero
Current RockBox AMPD owners: Upgrade to the new firmware here
Rock City Marine LLC, Detroit Michigan
The RockBox, GPS based tactical sailing instrument.
Speed, VMG, Heading, Lift - knock indicator, three level backlight, dual display (doublevision).