A data-driven performance optimization project, an extensive winter refit on the gorgeous 8-year-old Mark Mills designed Wally 100, and a sailing team tasked with driving the boat to all her potential. Has “V” found the recipe for success?
That's the abbreviated version of the recently upgraded “V” program, which celebrated its best result to date with a class-winning performance at the IMA Maxi European Championship 2024.
Through a collaborative effort with the Mills design team, the North Technology Group's sister companies, North Sails, Southern Spars, and Future Fibres, supported the “V” program throughout the refit. This comprehensive performance upgrade resulted from extensive data analysis through KNDmarine creating a detailed list of recommendations. North Sails also provided Mills Design and KND another critical development tool - a license to the powerful North VPP software, which effectively integrates aero and hydro data and allows yacht designers to analyze an entire sailboat as a unified working system.
The upgrades culminated in new North 3Di sails with extensive use of Helix Structured Luff, a new Southern Spars boom and spreaders, and the latest in hi-tech AeroSix rigging from Future Fibres.
Imagine this: You're at the start line with the boat, the optimized #EngineAboveDeck, and the President of North Sails serving as your tactician. Like anyone, you expect big things. And in her early season outings - “V” exceeded expectations, delivering impressive results.
Ken Read comments:
"It's early days, but there is a lot of positivity around “V's” new configuration. An immense amount of effort went into the project over the winter, with credit to so many people. We sought to tackle the boat's deficiencies and improve her strengths. It's not an easy combination, but so far, it looks like if we sail her well, we have a fighting chance, which is all you can ask for as a sailor."
#northsails #sailing #imamaxi #maxiyacht
📸 Studio Borlenghi
Application Engineer at Caudwell Marine
2moSeems to outclass the RNLI Shannon's (which are great boats - though very expensive) in terms of performance (significantly faster) and cost (£0.9m less cost) whilst using a very similar propulsion package. For the cost of 6 Shannon's you could have 9 Medina's. Those sought of cost savings would mean if the RNLI were using them they probably wouldn't need to downgrade station capabilities from ALB's to ILB's....