14
Nov
How Data Drives Decision-Making In Offshore Racing
In races such as the Vendée Globe, data plays a pivotal role in shaping a sailor’s strategies and ensuring success. Advanced racing yachts like Malizia - Seaexplorer are equipped with high-tech tools that provide a wealth of information. But what types of data are available to our skipper Boris Herrmann when he races offshore? Team Malizia’s co-skipper Will Harris navigates us through the sea of data that informs Boris’ decisions onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer.
by Hélène Katz
Boris Herrmann in his aft cabin navigation seat looking at weather files
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Malizia - Seaexplorer is a high-tech yacht providing a tremendous amount of data
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Malizia - Seaexplorer has two technologies onboard that sense its health: load cells and fibre optics
© Thomas Deregnieaux/ Qaptur / Team Malizia
Boris Herrmann in the cockpit of his high-tech IMOCA racing yacht Malizia - Seaexplorer
© Dani Devine / Team Malizia
The position of boats in the fleet, which is tracked by a technology like GPS and visible on the AIS is crucial data for safety and decision-making throughout the race.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Data is only a tool for sailors to use and to help understand the boat, but it’s not solely the thing to rely on, and at the end of the day, it comes down to the Boris' knowledge and feeling
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia