Sailing yacht Zero update #12: Data, data, and more data

An idea at the core of sailing yacht Zero is that the smarter a boat is, the more energy efficient it can be.

This applies across all aspects of the vessel, from energy harvesting to energy management, while also including guiding how people on board use power. And the key to it all? Data.

What’s particularly interesting is that the team don’t yet know exactly which data points will prove most useful. Instead, the goal is to cast as wide a net as possible and collect as much information as they can — even if only 20 % of it can actually be used.

When sailing yacht Zero is under way, this performance data will be delivered directly to the crew and engineers through onboard interfaces. Designed by the IT team, the system was built to be as user-friendly and actionable as possible, allowing the crew to react to situations quickly and without friction.

One point of particular focus is the heat control system, which harvests waste heat from photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) panels, thrusters, and other equipment across the yacht. The goal is to capture and reuse as much thermal energy as possible. Over the past couple of years, the team have developed custom software to help achieve just this. Now, that software is actively being rolled out.

Watch the update below to get more insight into the importance of data for sailing yacht Zero as the team prepare the vessel for sea trials.