Vendée – Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne race.

[yl75]

Thomas Ruyant (linkedout) is indeed a very serious candidate, and they also mention him being particularly well prepared in terms of physical fitness below :

https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=1e692787e2c4cc3370813fca1&id=0acfdd1454

As well as going on this race to win it.

 

[LeoV]

MadBrain pilots or B&G (Charal I believe, H5000) or NKE. You can be confused as for instance PRB uses B&G H3000 displays with MadBrain pilot.

 

[Boink]

Are any of them a actually running a genuine branded auto-pilot?  I’m sure the actuators are probably off the shelf and so are a lot of the sensors, but I suspect the “brain” is pretty customised.

I know that Sam Davies has been running "MadIntec" who are far from off the shelf suppliers - but who have also been working with Macif and few other high profile teams.

On the back of taking what was seen as an old package back to competitiveness, they are regarded somewhat as Flavour of the month in terms of taking Autopilots into far more advanced levels of understanding and control. This is essentail for these Foiling packages that are ridiculously dynamic. 

This is what I was wondering about, hinting at with Thomas on Linked Out. Anyone have the skinny?

EDIT: @LeoV Thanks Leo! You posted at almost the same moment I did, answering my question. Interesting that PRB also has.......

 

[yl75]

Are any of them a actually running a genuine branded auto-pilot?  I’m sure the actuators are probably off the shelf and so are a lot of the sensors, but I suspect the “brain” is pretty customised.

Indeed, I think quite a few of them are using "madintec" for the processing/brain part :

https://madintec.com/

Edit : LeoV was quicker 

 

[LeoV]

This is the first big test in Imoca for Madintec.
Off the leading group of 6 now, Charal and Hermann are B&G, rest Madintec.

 

[yl75]

About Madintec, anybody knows whether below box is really specific electronics, or is it more a "hardened PC" with some form of linux (maybe some specific com cards), and the whole "autopilot part" is mainly software ?

How about the equivalent from B&G or NKE these days ? (specific electronics, or software on top of general PC architecture ?)

 

[LeoV]

Madintec is a combination from AC and Imoca (ex NKE)  input, software and hardware (motherboards and sensors). They install the whole package, calibrate and personalize the software to the boat.

NKE seems to have slowed down in research, and B&G catches up and for some functions maybe better. Madintec is the next level now. It can prove its value this year for Imoca.

 

[JonRowe]

A third foil is currently being constructed, and the current port one is "reversible".

The reversible one was the one I thought was spare, didn't realise he hadn't got both new foils yet... Pretty major repair if it means redesign this close to the Vendee!

About Madintec, anybody knows whether below box is really specific electronics, or is it more a "hardened PC" with some form of linux (maybe some specific com cards), and the whole "autopilot part" is mainly software ?

How about the equivalent from B&G or NKE these days ? (specific electronics, or software on top of general PC architecture ?)

The custom boxes seem to be typically embedded Linux systems, I know the Exocet boxes the Ultimes use for data capture, stress/strain alarms are, you can fairly easily (if you are an OEM manufacturer) get an "off the shelf" package with GPI/O and adapt to your needs as an OEM device, if its all solid state and in an IP68 case it's good enough these days. You've got a bunch of choices CPU wise from high power but usually better performing X86 system on chip, or Linux works well on ARM these days giving you lower power for reasonable punch and then theres the custom GPU style chips NVidia etc are putting out which would be fantastic for any AI modelling they use.

 

[Ahstom]

The reversible one was the one I thought was spare, didn't realise he hadn't got both new foils yet... Pretty major repair if it means redesign this close to the Vendee!

The custom boxes seem to be typically embedded Linux systems, I know the Exocet boxes the Ultimes use for data capture, stress/strain alarms are, you can fairly easily (if you are an OEM manufacturer) get an "off the shelf" package with GPI/O and adapt to your needs as an OEM device, if its all solid state and in an IP68 case it's good enough these days. You've got a bunch of choices CPU wise from high power but usually better performing X86 system on chip, or Linux works well on ARM these days giving you lower power for reasonable punch and then theres the custom GPU style chips NVidia etc are putting out which would be fantastic for any AI modelling they use.

They have a quite refined software aswell (mathematic model of the boat dynamic, her interaction with wave, wind etc). Madintec also advertises to have a quite sofisticated signal treatment to cancel noises on wind sensor and inertial sensor. They also provide on shore data analysis to fine tune the model... 

 

[JonRowe]

They have a quite refined software aswell (mathematic model of the boat dynamic, her interaction with wave, wind etc). Madintec also advertises to have a quite sofisticated signal treatment to cancel noises on wind sensor and inertial sensor. They also provide on shore data analysis to fine tune the model... 

Oh no doubt, I suspect "quite refined" is a massive understatement! I meant no disrespect to either company, just that there seems to be a lot of using linux as a base to run your custom software these days. Given the close to real time nature that an IMOCA autopilot needs its equally likely it's some custom FPGA type device too. 

 

[terrafirma]

Apivia has picked up speed and threatens the leaders now. L'Occitane gone East. Isabelle smoking too wow this girl can sail. 

 

[Miffy]

Madintech has the foiling pilot basically cornered among the new boats. They basically quietly get the commission and BG/NKE basically split the non foiling market in class 40-figaro-mini.  

 

[yl75]

Sam shortly after the first mark :

 

[LeoV]

Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest-Arts & Fenêtres) 

The speed differentials are so impressive between the latest generation boats and ours that there’s no point deluding yourself. We’re 3 to 4 knots slower upwind, 7 or 8 on a reach in certain phases. Even if we are able to catch up, which would be funny, they’ll end up stealing a march on us again.”

Even upwind now an advantage...

 

[Chasm]

Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL) is heading back with a broken alternator mount.
Looks like he is already qualified for the VG.

 

[yl75]

Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest-Arts & Fenêtres) 

The speed differentials are so impressive between the latest generation boats and ours that there’s no point deluding yourself. We’re 3 to 4 knots slower upwind, 7 or 8 on a reach in certain phases. Even if we are able to catch up, which would be funny, they’ll end up stealing a march on us again.”

Even upwind now an advantage...

Its more latest generation foils than boats obviouly (as Boris with the exact same boat more or less, but new foils is showing, and even more Kevin and Isabelle)

 

[Miffy]

Its more latest generation foils than boats obviouly (as Boris with the exact same boat more or less, but new foils is showing, and even more Kevin and Isabelle)

I think there are some rebuilds that get to thread the needle better than others - grandfathered in hulls with foils probably have a sizable weight advantage over the first gen foilers from 2016. But... hopefully they’re strong enough for southern ocean. 

 

[Your Mom]

I wonder if Tripon is routing South of the High and planning to get his Northing in on its far side as tomorrow's Low comes in.  Might be viable, particularly if his boat can't compete upwind, but if that's the plan, he could have headed West a lot sooner.

I guess it's more likely that he's trying to stay out of the heaviest winds to preserve himself and his boat for later in the race when he'll be at less of a disadvantage.

Edit: Scratch that theory...  he just tacked.

 

[Your Mom]

I've been reviewing the list in the second link of my above post #135 against this race's entries, and figured I'd share my notes...

Qualified for Vendee, participating in Arctique (12):

Amedeo, Bestaven, Beyou, Boissieres, Cousin, Cremer, Dalin, Davies, Escoffier, Herrmann, Merron, Pedote

Qualified, not participating (6):

Attanasio, Barrier, Dutreux, le Cam, le Diraison, Roura

Sailing qualifications complete, but other qualifications remain, participating (3):

Ruyant, Seguin (returning to port), Sorel

Sailing qualifications complete, but other qualifications remain, not participating (2):

Huusela, Nigon

Needs a 2,000-nm passage, participating (1):

Simon (Retired)

Needs 2,000 nm passage, not participating (6):

Burton, Colman, Costa, Destremau, Thomson, Troussel

Needs solo race, participating (4):

Joschke, Giraud, Shiraishi, Tripon

Needs solo race, not participating (0):

None

Pip Hare seems to be missing form the article.  I'm not sure of her status.  Also, the article says 6 have completed their sailing requirements, but it only lists 5 names.  I'm not sure why.  Was someone in that category on June 8 when the article was written, who later dropped out and was replaced by Hare?

To summarize:

• Most of this 20-boat fleet has already done all of their required sailing to qualify for Vendee.
  
• Seguin has no particular need to resume racing.
  
• None of the seven who need a 2,000 nm passage will attain it in this event.  Simon was actually the only of them to even sign up.  I guess those seven will all do it independently as controlled shakedowns rather than racing.
  
• Joschke, Giraud, Shiraishi, and Tripon all really need to finish this race.  I'm not sure if they'll have another opportunity.  So they're theoretically all "racing" in boat preservation mode.
  
• So...  I think this explains Tripon's early tack.  I think he chose to stay south of the heaviest winds, beating into 18-22 instead of 25-30.  Boat preservation with the goal being to finish and qualify.  Finish position is a secondary priority
  

 

[Trocola]

I would not

I've been reviewing the list in the second link of my above post #135 against this race's entries, and figured I'd share my notes...

Qualified for Vendee, participating in Arctique (12):

Amedeo, Bestaven, Beyou, Boissieres, Cousin, Cremer, Dalin, Davies, Escoffier, Herrmann, Merron, Pedote

Qualified, not participating (6):

Attanasio, Barrier, Dutreux, le Cam, le Diraison, Roura

Sailing qualifications complete, but other qualifications remain, participating (3):

Ruyant, Seguin (returning to port), Sorel

Sailing qualifications complete, but other qualifications remain, not participating (2):

Huusela, Nigon

Needs a 2,000-nm passage, participating (1):

Simon (Retired)

Needs 2,000 nm passage, not participating (6):

Burton, Colman, Costa, Destremau, Thomson, Troussel

Needs solo race, participating (4):

Joschke, Giraud, Shiraishi, Tripon

Needs solo race, not participating (0):

None

Pip Hare seems to be missing form the article.  I'm not sure of her status.  Also, the article says 6 have completed their sailing requirements, but it only lists 5 names.  I'm not sure why.  Was someone in that category on June 8 when the article was written, who later dropped out and was replaced by Hare?

To summarize:

• Most of this 20-boat fleet has already done all of their required sailing to qualify for Vendee.
  
• Seguin has no particular need to resume racing.
  
• None of the seven who need a 2,000 nm passage will attain it in this event.  Simon was actually the only of them to even sign up.  I guess those seven will all do it independently as controlled shakedowns rather than racing.
  
• Joschke, Giraud, Shiraishi, and Tripon all really need to finish this race.  I'm not sure if they'll have another opportunity.  So they're theoretically all "racing" in boat preservation mode.
  
• So...  I think this explains Tripon's early tack.  I think he chose to stay south of the heaviest winds, beating into 18-22 instead of 25-30.  Boat preservation with the goal being to finish and qualify.  Finish position is a secondary priority
  

I think with current economic situation available spots in the vendee ghlobe are not anymore a problem. If the organisation trusts the boat and the skipper, even without fullfilling each requirement, that skipper will start the vendee.

On other note I would love to see Colman taking the start but I have not seen any more news since the video he did inside of a washing machine. It looks like his campaign is not moving much. Hope to be wrong though.