The Boat Show Season 1 Episode 16 Sailing innovation

The Boat Show is back, and in this week's episode, named Sailing innovation, it explores the latest technological breakthroughs in the world of sailing. Hosted by renowned sailor and journalist, Alberto Mariotti, the show takes viewers on a journey through the state-of-the-art sailing technologies that are set to revolutionize the sport.

The episode begins with a visit to the JPK Composites shipyard, a French-based boatbuilder, where Mariotti meets with Jean-Pierre Kelbert, the company's founder, and CEO. Kelbert takes Mariotti on a tour of his production facility and shows him the latest addition to the JPK family, the JPK 11.80. The boat is a new generation of high-performance cruiser-racer, designed using cutting-edge CAD and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. Mariotti discovers how JPK Composites is using technology to improve the boat's performance and comfort while reducing its environmental impact.

Next, Mariotti travels to La Rochelle, where he meets with professional sailor, Sébastien Rogues, to discover how a new device is helping him win races. Rogues introduces Mariotti to the FlyTack, a self-tacking jib system developed by Karver Systems. FlyTack uses a revolutionary concept that allows for an effortless upward and downward movement of the jib, which improves its performance and reduces the stress on the gear and the crew. Mariotti watches as Rogues puts the FlyTack through its paces during a training session and learns how it could improve the sailing experience for the average sailor.

In the third segment of the show, Mariotti heads to the Netherlands, where he visits the Royal Huisman shipyard, a company famous for building some of the most magnificent sailing yachts in the world. Mariotti meets with Ruurt Meulemans, the company's marketing and communication director, who takes him on a tour of the shipyard's latest project, the 56-meter ketch, Aquarius. Aquarius is a unique sailing yacht that combines advanced sailing technology and eco-friendly features. Mariotti learns how the yacht uses hybrid propulsion, solar cells, and lithium-ion batteries to reduce its carbon footprint. He also discovers how advanced technologies and materials, such as 3D printing, are used in its construction, making it one of the most innovative sailing yachts ever built.

Later, Mariotti travels to Newport, Rhode Island, to find out how America's Cup teams are using artificial intelligence (AI) to gain a competitive edge. He meets with Laurent Esquier, CEO of SailGP, who explains how the organization is using machine learning algorithms to analyze data collected from onboard sensors and improve the team's performance. Mariotti also visits the Harken headquarters, a company that specializes in sailing hardware and deck gear, to discover how they are using AI-assisted design tools to enhance the performance and reliability of their products.

Finally, the episode ends with an interview with Kristian Hajnsek, the CEO of SAROS Technology, a company that has developed an innovative sail propulsion system based on the principle of the Magnus effect. Mariotti learns how the system works, sees it in action, and discusses the potential impact it could have on sailing as a sport and as a means of transportation.

Overall, Sailing innovation is an exciting episode that showcases the latest developments in the world of sailing and reveals how technology is helping sailors go faster, safer, and greener.