For a skipper and team which are aiming for a decent sporting performance, empirical analysis of the the performance data and corresponding behavioural characteristics of an IMOCA is essential. And it is increasingly important when it comes to the analysis and understanding of the new generation foiling ‘flying’ IMOCAs. On the Charal team Nicolas Andrieu is one of the technical team members whose responsibility it is to gather the data and analyse it. The objectives are to realise the full potential of the boat on all points of sail and wind strengths, to make incremental changes in appropriate steps at the right time, and to maximise the reliability of the boat and the requisite hardware.
