Change of approach in the analysis of ocean racing
A crew member, often in the position of navigator, and an independent service provider in performance analysis for numerous teams, Olivier Douillard is familiar with the world of ocean racing, but also with IT and data processing. He was involved with Adrena and in the development of the Sailing Performance software within the French America's Cup challenge in Valencia in 2007. As an experienced actor, he has felt the evolution of the environment and had the intuition of the need for new analysis tools. "I do a lot of services for the Gitana team. With the Ultims, we've seen an explosion in the number of sensors. With the high frequencies and the flow of data, there was a need for a different approach. I set up my company in 2014 with this idea in mind and since 2018, we've been developing new tools" he explains.
A collaborative platform for teams and experts
His company, named AIM45, designed the M2 platform. "It's a collaborative web platform. It allows data to be linked, with no limit to the number of data, through an online tool that automates processing, with a development team. The challenge is to make the data available. Analysing 24 hours of sailing or a Vendée Globe, this has to be transparent for the user. Each user has different rights, which allows us to work with a large team and integrate outside experts," indicated Olivier Douillard.
Already used by the Gitana team for its Ultim and the IMOCA Corum and DMG Mori, the M2 platform is also aimed at enlightened amateur sailors. "We also have crewed IRCs. There is a wide variety of data between the different boats, not just the sensors, but also photos or debriefing notes. We adapt the software to the client's needs and the subscription according to the sensors and the data processed," explains Olivier Douillard.
Pursue the qualification of the software according to the boats and the teams
The company currently employs 5 people, including 3 developers, spread between Nantes and the Finistère Mer Vent building in Port-La-Forêt. Marketed since the summer of 2020, the M2 platform is regularly adapted. A free test operation during the Défi Azimut enabled the skippers' satisfaction to be validated and adjustments to be considered. "The feedback is interesting, with a test with 7 teams. We've also had tests on the Solitaire du Figaro. This allows us to see the different ways of using it," concludes the founder of AIM45. It remains to be seen how the returns from the Vendée Globe 2020 will feed the future generation of IMOCA boats!
