Inside the latest generation IMOCA60 - Malizia

Fully crewed IMOCA 60s are new territory. While some of the five teams have had the luxury of testing, training and generally getting their heads around how things work with five aboard a boat originally designed for one, most haven't.
One of the latest generation of IMOCA60s is Boris Herrmann's Malizia.
Shortly after the boat had been launched, crew member Will Harris gave me the full tour. It was fascinating and highlighted just how different the new boats are to sail.
Plus, Will also explained some of the thinking behind Malizia’s extraordinary shape
Facebook - @planetsail.org
Website - www.planetsail.co.uk
Twitter - matthewsheahan
Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

Will Harris, leading this tour, deserves an Emmy award for giving such a terrific non stop array of information- explanation. So clear, graceful & never a moment where Will stoups the talk to fit nincompoops...just makes it perfect from start to finish

[@jefferywest1]

Agree with Canyon 100%. Brilliant and makes me so admire the folks who want to do this. Zero comfort if it takes adding weight....must be harrowing in the Southern Ocean...the noise is incredible!

[@MikeWest_W]

Seriously. I kept wondering if he was the engineer or sailor. Where’s wills KZbin channel?

[@GibsonFreak1966]

What a pleasure to listen to an expert!!!

[@nigelw.9043]

Great video -- Will Harris is such a great ambassador for the team and the sport.

[@Kiwisail]

The best tech video I have watched in years. Absolutely fascinating. I hope the crew wear helmets while moving sails fwd of the foils. More of this please Matt Sheehan!

[@aronmclean6772]

Very interesting. Will Harris is an exceptional presenter. Thank you Matt!

[@floodo1]

now THIS is the behind the scenes that I want to see. So informative

[@AndreUchoaUSA]

Absolutely loved it! Thanks!

[@327365hp]

Fantastic tour of this amazing machine! A huge thanks to Will. Best of luck, and we'll see you in Newport!

[@barney2001]

Amazing. Thank you. With everything inside I will miss the crew torture I so enjoyed watching from the comfort of my living room…

[@darbslohcin]

I've been following this race since the beginning, they're all between NZ and S America now, but I just watched this video. This crew are not only world class athletes, but computer engineers! Unbelievable! Go Team Malizia!

[@Billyspacerocket]

I’m so excited to see what they can do with this marvellous contraption ❤

[@happysensyhappysensy670]

Will Harris is a very friendly expert --than you

[@CS_247]

Crazy. It's like a Space Shuttle cockpit. It's probably SAFER in a Space Shuttle..😆Must be an incredible experience to be flying through a heavy sea tho. What a boat!!

[@michaellunn9826]

Absolutely amassing teck in these boats now. Cant wait for the start.

[@G0KAD]

Wow, stunning. It will be great to see some real footage from the deep south with an OBR onboard. Fingers crossed it won't be dumbed down.

[@williamkerr3350]

What a fantastic tour,great entertainment,thank you.

[@Simply1ism]

Excellent look onboard. Non-sailer here but enjoyed the commentary with now new understanding. Saw last year's Vendée race but never predicted such a vessel.....

[@davidtydeman1434]

Thank you for the explanation that was not requiring me to be a nautical engineer

[@sjd9214]

With only 5 Imocas, of which 3 are brand new and one having over a years worth of training, I can envisage a lot of breakdowns, especially now with 4 crew pushing the boats even harder as compared to singlehanding. There is a real danger of the Ocean Race becoming a bust. I certainly hope not, but without the reliable VO65s, it's going to be tense for the organisers.

[@camdensimon8964]

so true. And it is becoming a test of who can best design a computer that steers and less of hand skills. I hope these falter in popularity and VO65s or an equivalent takes over in the long run

[@bayard1332]

Then I guess it's lucky for them they included the VO65s in the race, too.

[@professorvoluck9311]

This issue not unique to sailing. Motogp bikes, F1 cars, rally cars, etc. All full of electronic aids to assist to the drivers but when is too much? I agree, it’s becoming more about the machine and less about skill.

[@macks2025]

Great tour - thank you Matt. Awesome tech, but I must say I envisage a fast approaching day when this fly-by-wire racing is going to spawn a break-away class of classic hands-on manual only boats where you can have your AIS and EPRB and the rest is you and your skills versus the elements. I'm not preaching nor converting, but I'd miss not even manning the tiller - that's why i had the sail boat in the first place 😄

[@robo5553]

There's the Golden Globe Race. Doesn't get much more manual than that.

[@adamangit]

What a great article Matt thanks. So much learnt and discovered for me, awesome

[@ronyben-nachum7803]

Thank you very much for the wonderful tour and explanation.

[@rinrat6754]

Wonderful deep dive. I can't imagine how tough it will be to live with the noise and movement in the southern ocean.

[@jessen00001]

Awesome 😎

[@sarpergunsal]

Great video, great tech info. 👏👏

[@R.B_B]

Amazing video. A true lesson.

[@SY-Janica]

Really interesting. I would wish to see this boat in reality. This would be great. And the choice of B&G equipment…. Good, I use only B&G on my boat too and I am very satisfied with it. Good luck for you.

[@ilkkalahteenmaki8758]

Great video - thanks!

[@marcelofonte8274]

Amazing video!

[@woob31]

Great content, thanks

[@pulehushortribs157]

great informative video, all i can say is WOW. i want to see her fly

[@lutzlochmannn3264]

To Sail Malizia ist like playing an komplex musik- Instrument. All Team members are so..Dirigent off an Orchester!😊😊

[@cvanscho]

I'm no expert, but footage of the conventional bows ploughing into the back of the swells ALWAYS worried me a lot. It just looked so wrong, so inefficient. You could almost see the boat shuddering from the sharp braking effect every time. But I thought, well these guys must know what they are doing, who am I to criticize?. NOW they have finally woken up to the issue, with the scow bow? Amazing that it took so long IMHO.

[@macks2025]

Yeah, but like he said: initially they were trying to make the boats go faster through the slow bits, but now they know going even faster thru the fast bits is overall of more benefit, so the evolution continues. I'm a little bit sad they don't man the tiller anymore though - it becomes more and more like the F1 racing, where the human is only a decision making interface rather than an active hands-on sailor.

[@richhudnut5110]

Fantastic video, such amazing tech on board... Future sailing programs at MIT...

[@chrisrancat2808]

Fiber optic cables measuring load is absolutely awesome technology. Good for them.

[@mooorecowbell4222]

How this vast amount of electronics is surviving the southern ocean is amazing. The IMOCA 60 class is the Boeing 787 / 777X of the sailing yacht design. The Horn rounding is just ahead on this 40 day leg.⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵

[@wisdomSP]

Fatigue testing and monitoring is very interesting. I work in a completely different industry that could use this technology. First I heard...

[@fraserconnell21]

Boat? It's more akin to an organic lifeform! I imagine when the thing is barrelling along it's like alive,twitching and flexing while racing across the wet stuff. Fantastic watch and impressive tech to boot. A great insightful video. A new subscriber 👍

[@petergrundy8081]

Mind blowing

[@nroose]

In general, if you can do it, your forefinger will be a better controller than your middle finger, if a little harder to put on the screen, since it is slightly shorter. That finger does have a lot more nerves and so it will enable you better touch control.

[@roncooper6302]

Wow, talk about high tech puts my little 27 footer in perspective. This is a floating computer centre.

[@bf5549]

Just found this great video. With the teams just landing in Brazil as hindsight some of the comments are worth a little smile. Especially the one that asks what happens if a foil gets hit. Ask Biotherm.

[@tree4408]

Thanks Sailing Arcadia

[@jorgeconcheyro]

Cape of good hope - Itajai is just crazy...

[@Vinnie101a]

I didn’t see anything about food storage/provisions, etc. Did I miss it?

[@vidpromjm]

Must be like being a submarine crew! Is the sail change manual with crew on deck or another automated below deck process?

[@matthiaskauf6153]

Liebes Malizia Team, ich wünsche mir dieses Video mit deutscher Synchronisation, da mein Englisch leider zu schlecht ist um die Details zu verstehen. Ich bin sicher nicht der einzige😉 Liebe Grüße und viel Erfolg wünscht Matthias Kauf Habe gerade den Beitrag von Yacht TV entdeckt. Jetzt bin schon schlauer😀

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

Would like some one to explain this uncomfortable round motion mentioned caused by the foils compared to a normal heave. Any can answer if I have insight. Thanks!

[@timlolxP]

I would say it has to do with acceleration and decceleration combined with up and down movement. Like the boat is accelerating and the foil is lifting up the bow (up +forward sensation), then it hits a wave and is slowing down and the bow moves down bc the foils dont generate enough lift (down and back sensation). Its almost a circualar motion. I never experienced it but thats how i imagine it when he talks about circular motion.

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

@@timlolxP Ok, on the vertical plane. Was thinking in the horizontal. Thanks.

[@timlolxP]

@@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk I think the horizontal plane also plays into it :D Like i said i was never on a foiling race boat.

[@TomWick]

I can imagine broken tail bones with those seats that fold down

[@Alan-zd1qu]

Sitting there for weeks and months. Is a proper sear too much to ask for?

[@epicv7dayz824]

Fascinating how it’s now called an autopilot as compared to auto helm. As if these machines actually fly, I suppose they do !

[@simonpickering2665]

Whats Plan C when all the electronics fail?

[@cvanscho]

Didn't you see the oars?

[@tayler2396]

What is the other way to generate electricity other than solar? I didn't understand what he said there.

[@AndreUchoaUSA]

Millions spent in R&D, engineering and construction.......why not a couple of hundred dollars more to install light in the dungeon!! hahaha

[@olliematthews9159]

That was my immediate thought especially when going solo in Vendee as getting injured surely has to be a serious risk that needs to be considered! Nuts

[@bobbob6472]

Because those millions you spent on R&D taught you that weight matters and sailors already have headlamps, so no need to add 5-10kg more.

[@doenertasche0277]

Thats a lot of weight and extra cables

[@doradosurfcharters]

Bit of foam padding and good light would be nice when you need to do emergency repairs

[@arctain1]

@@bobbob6472 - soooooo… weight matters. Just curious, what’s difference in weight between a LED headlamp on all the sailors (straps and batteries, stored when not in use, plus backups) and the weight of 3.3v light strips I’m not sure you’ve thought that answer through…heh

[@keithc5729]

Great video! Much better with Will rather than boring Boris.

[@R.E.HILL_]

Such a comfortable liveaboard cruiser...

[@chabtee7332]

Imagine these boats with T foils and relaxed rigging rules

[@virgilius68]

It all depends on tablets, camera's and electronics.. what if the power goes down? It takes one wave of water

[@tyrmcasgard2698]

This dude said uumm, more times than I can count. And umm I can count to ten at least.

[@lesliestuart]

I hate to even say this but adding an automated sail plan would allow a major weight savings by eliminating the crew. I hate what that looks like in my imagination.

[@shinybaldy]

FWIW flax fiber epoxy products are about as recyclable as carbon fiber epoxy products. They can be heat recycled. 😅

[@Antipodean33]

The technology is great but I can't help feeling we're moving so far away from a true sail boat. foiling 60s with all these sensors etc is expensive and I can't word it, it just seems too far now from those great races with those 60s from a decade or so ago. The cost now to compete at this level is going to mean we won't see as many boats and many skippers will miss out. I realize all the tech is inevitable, but I can see a time soon where it will be sailed by a robot, or the boat will sail itself

[@phillipdelatour7729]

Are you following the Golden Globe Race? I suspect limiting the tech also limits interest. Even worse it seems the Globe 40 race didn't manage to get a title sponsor and has had hardly any publicity or media at all, considering they rounded Cape Horn recently.

[@nilsweitkamp4597]

I would see it the same like the Formula One. All the development and experience they make will end up years later in the normal boats

[@camdensimon8964]

and it is making it more about computers and less reliant on the test of human skill

[@Antipodean33]

@@phillipdelatour7729 We Aussies just had the Sydney to Hobart race, massive sponsorship with Rolex being the biggest, Sydney Harbor was packed with people on land and 1000's of boats lining the exclusion lines, mass media coverage and not one foiling boat to be seen. Boats from 27 foot to 100 foot, no cats or tri's either and it's still huge

[@nigelw.9043]

these race are always going to be the pinnacle of the sport and pushing technology to the max with budgets to allow for it. However if you look at the auto pilots the average sailor can buy today are a true trickle down tecl from races like the Vendee. Skippers missing out - not really happening at the moment with all big single and double hand races breaking entry records and / or reaching subscription limts.

[@carlneville2088]

"to be honest it feels like the boats going to explode at any moment"

[@dadob]

That’s not a boat. That is a spaceship.

[@fritz3388]

A few gram of light paint for the sail locker room is to much extra weight for the boat? And how about some LEDs for the same room to make it less dangerous for the crew to work their with the sails? Sorry thats idiotic laughable. I generally find it unessesary masochistic to make the boat not somewhat more liveable. Like the constand noise from the boat being build of carbon, one could use noise cancellation technic like many modern headsets have it inbuild as standard. The noise stresslevel goes up quite a bit with continous noise present, that will coast the crew alot of concentration power, and pushes them into making mistakes.

[@ricbace]

sir I love your videos but you need a microphone for yourself... and another for the guy

[@CG-99]

Oh how the Volvo has lost its status, long gone are the days when all the best pro offshore and inshore sailors lined up for 9 months of amazing racing. All seems a bit half baked these days.

[@barteaumotorsports8909]

It’s another sport that’s being raced by engineers rather than artful skill. ? Formula 1 has led the way. It’s not bad or wrong just different. Will open up opportunities for new series of competition that get back to the basics

[@guynowell8666]

Next step: don't get on the boat at all. Just sit on your sofa with a Game Boy. Seriously impressive, but something seems to have been lost here.

[@Morphior]

Thing is, you can still sail completely manually on other boats if you want, but in my opinion there's certainly a place for these technological competitions. Humanity has always advanced most when there is competition. The Saturn V rocket and all the stuff that went along with that only got made because the US wanted to beat the USSR to the moon.

[@camdensimon8964]

I agree....extremely impressive......but everything is becoming lost. I hope races open to corinthian participants bans computer controlled and steered boats.

[@geeezer9]

ooouf

[@johnmayer3433]

'there is a lot of space back here' lol . Well, maybe in that black cave black humor is kicking in.

[@camdensimon8964]

impressive machine. It is quite impressive. But......welcome to sailing becoming a computer driven activity.....they should not allow autopilots on races that are not singlehand or doublehand events. This is becoming less and less a test of sailor skill and more a test of who can best program and design a computer....... ugh

[@robhead1600]

What ever happened to proper sailing, the early Whitbread sailors must laugh at this technology, they were a lot hardier than the latest breed of yachtie, these yachts might just as well sail around the world crew less and radio controlled,

[@thomaselliott573]

These guys are still hard. Getting tossed around in one of these murderous things is a feat of endurance which, as you say, has little to do with sailing

[@brianmccusker3852]

After watching just 10 minutes of this, I strongly suggest you buy lots of life insurance, invest in some good body armor, an F-1 helmet, and some good earplugs. You are in for the most gruesome unpleasantness of your life. The ocean is not going so show you or that boat any mercy. Too many electronic devises that can fail, and I'm not sure you can sail that thing without them.

[@RT-tn4ry]

There are a couple of bucks in one of those tubs for sure. If this ship does the whole leg without one glitch or break down, it would be a miracle for sure .

[@maxiegrobner9018]

Propaganda boat.

[@richr909]

I'd be afraid that one of those foils would rip off, leaving a giant hole in the side of the boat.

[@thomaselliott573]

One wonders if there will be a move away from play stations back to sailing