Building Performance One Mile at a Time
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Launching our IMOCA might look like we're ready to race, but in reality, it's just the first step on a steep learning curve.
Since bringing Embrace The Challenge to Gosport, every day has been focused on one objective: unlocking the full potential of both the boat and the team before lining up on the start line of our first race, The Ocean Race Atlantic, on 1st September.
Learning the boat
A modern foiling IMOCA is an incredibly sophisticated racing machine. While every boat meets the class rules, each has its own unique characteristics, many that only reveal themselves through time on the water.
To accelerate that learning, Ollie has spent valuable time sailing alongside the boat's previous skipper, Justine Mettraux. Having raced this IMOCA extensively, her knowledge is invaluable. Every training session has helped shorten the learning curve, transferring years of experience and giving the team a deeper understanding of how the boat performs across a wide range of conditions.
But learning the boat is only one piece of the puzzle.
Working as a team
With The Ocean Race Atlantic bringing together Ollie, Lincoln Dews, Liz Wardley and Marie Riou, equal attention has been given to building a high-performing crew. Offshore racing isn't simply about putting four exceptional sailors on the same boat; it's about learning how to operate as a single unit.
Training has focused on clarifying responsibilities, refining communication and understanding each sailor's strengths. Every crew member brings unique offshore racing experience, creating an environment where knowledge is shared constantly and everyone continues to learn from one another.
That learning has extended beyond the race crew too.
Over recent weeks the team has welcomed some of offshore sailing's most respected names on board, including sailmaker Brian Thomson, multiple round-the-world sailor Dee Caffari and offshore racer Tom Dolan. Each has brought fresh perspectives and practical insight, helping broaden the team's understanding of both the boat and offshore performance.
Alongside the sailing itself, countless hours have been dedicated to collecting and analysing performance data.
Calibrating instruments, validating sensor accuracy and building reliable performance numbers are fundamental to racing success. Understanding which sail combination delivers maximum speed in different conditions allows decisions to be made with confidence when every fraction of a knot matters.
Building performance also means exploring the limits; gradually pushing the boat harder, identifying opportunities for gains and developing the confidence to operate safely at the edge of the boat's capabilities.
Progress isn't built in one breakthrough moment. It's the result of hundreds of small improvements made every day, every mile and every training session.
This is the work that rarely makes the headlines, but it's the work that wins races.
Every lesson learned brings the team one step closer to becoming the competitive campaign we're building towards, one that doesn't simply embrace the challenge, but is ready to perform when it matters most.
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