Reliability – the Essential Goal for Shore Teams in IMOCA as the Ultimate Challenge Approaches
by Ed Gorman / IMOCA Globe Series 1 Oct 10:46 PDT
10 November 2024
Teamwork – Team SNEF © Gauthier Lebec / Teamwork – Team SNEF
There is an old adage in sailing that yacht races are concluded on land before a boat or a skipper even departs, and in terms of technical readiness, this is especially true for the Vendée Globe.
The classic solo circumnavigation, commencing from Les Sables d’Olonne in merely 40 days, tests racing and solo sailing capabilities, but it fundamentally examines the shore team’s effectiveness in preparing a boat and its skipper for an unsupported global voyage.
In the IMOCA Class, the pivotal concept in this context has consistently been “reliability” – a wide-reaching term encapsulating the durability of the boat and all its components, from its structure, rig, standing and running rigging, to its systems and electronics.
We spoke to two individuals involved in this aspect as they gear up for the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, set to begin on November 10th, to learn how they tackle the most challenging test for equipment in global sailing.
Simone Gaeta, a 48-year-old Italian technical director with Justine Mettraux’s Teamwork-Team SNEF campaign, is one of the most seasoned boat captains and preparers in the Class. He first engaged in the Vendée Globe in 2004-05 with Sébastien Josse on VMI and has since collaborated with Armel Le Cléac’h and Kojiro Shiraishi.
Gaeta emphasizes that the crux of his work is discovering straightforward solutions to every issue. “Perfection is removing everything unnecessary,” he stated. “The solution should be simple for the boat and Justine, ensuring no detriment to performance.”
The significant technical concern for Gaeta and Mettraux involved replacing the foils on the previous Charal 1. They opted to complete this task well in advance, guaranteeing a flawless transition. Their subsequent efforts have concentrated on testing the new foils and the onboard electronics for Teamwork-Team SNEF.
“The boat was launched in 2018 with first-generation large foils,” Gaeta elaborated. “We replaced them last year to familiarize ourselves with the new foils and configure the boat appropriately before the Vendée Globe. Extensive time has been dedicated to this, particularly the electronics, since solo racing demands substantial electronic equipment onboard, and establishing confidence in our setup involves considerable work.”
A critical consideration is the inventory of spare parts. “The dilemma lies in selection. You cannot bring an entire second boat, and some items are either too complex or challenging to repair, rendering spares impractical. The challenge is determining what Justine should bring along and what is unnecessary,” Gaeta remarked.
In contrast, fellow Italian 31-year-old Vittoria Ripa Di Meana is at the opposite spectrum of experience, preparing for her first Vendée Globe with Sam Davies’s team on Initiatives-Coeur. Ripa Di Meana oversees the mast, rigging, and some deck hardware.
Her methodology mirrors Gaeta’s. “The overall strategy heavily relies on your objectives for the Vendée Globe,” she explained. “We strive to avoid complicating matters that could be straightforward—keeping things easy, simple, and cost-effective while maximizing time on the water rather than on land fine-tuning.”
The objective is reliability: “The philosophy is, once it works, it remains functional, which has been invaluable over the past two-and-a-half years, as we have tested many components. Once they perform, we focus on what still requires attention. Consequently, we have a reasonably dependable boat—one that inspires skipper confidence for higher performance.”
Ripa Di Meana emphasizes that time is critical when considering how components degrade onboard. “What deteriorates things in IMOCA is more about duration than physical strain on a component—the mileage covered,” she stated. “We aim to address how long various items will last and are currently contemplating spares.”
Regarding spare parts, from ropes to mechanical components for the engine and electronic parts, as well as repair supplies for sails and the hull, Ripa Di Meana emphasizes the need to prioritize backups for the items most likely to malfunction. “Everyone in their department tracks failure occurrences, ensuring that we have spares for those—it’s a given,” she explained. A prime example is the foil downline, responsible for controlling the foil’s position, which is prone to wear and tear, necessitating essential spares.
Part of Ripa Di Meana and Gaeta’s responsibilities includes preparing their skipper for operational practice on repairs, familiarizing her with onboard locations, and understanding potential issues and fixes. “Yes, we do that,” confirmed Gaeta. “Justine has taken the time with the team to better understand the boat and learn what she can do in case of a breakdown.”
Ripa Di Meana acknowledged that Davies has had less opportunity for practical experience due to her broader commitments. “We are working on it,” she stated, “and would love to dedicate more time, but Sam has numerous responsibilities outside of sailing, making boat time scarce. We strive to establish procedures for situations that concern us most, even if only for our shore team. At least we can assure that if she faces an issue in the middle of the night, we can guide her.”
Nonetheless, Ripa Di Meana points out that Davies is among the most experienced skippers in IMOCA, possessing an engineering background, and has vast practice managing issues during competitions on her new boat. “She has raced extensively in the last two years with this boat, so she’s definitely seasoned in the field,” she asserted.
An inherent challenge for shore teams in these campaigns is that once the race commences, they remain on land, anxiously hoping that all their preparations withstand the Vendée Globe test.
“The most stressful part of the job for me occurs during races,” admits Ripa Di Meana, “because lack of communications from the boat might indicate good news, yet leaves you in the dark, while receiving updates can bring anxiety!”
Gaeta shares similar thoughts. “I anticipate some stress,” he admitted. “I will likely monitor the weather constantly. For us, problems on board are intense moments, not inherently negative, as we seek solutions and communicate with the skipper to address any issues, regardless of the hour.”
Ripa Di Meana remains superstitious regarding discussing Davies’s prospects in what will be her fourth Vendée Globe, during which she will be on standby alongside other team members from start to finish.
“We hope she will reach the podium,” she said. “It’s evident that her sailing is at an all-time high. However, the race demands pride in starting well, followed by unforeseen outcomes…”
