Changing the game - since the birth of IMOCA in 1991, the Class has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of technology in pursuit of performance, making it the birthplace for countless ingenious innovations. One pioneering breakthrough that has stood the test of time and transformed our sport and beyond, would have to be the introduction of carbon fibre composites - a light, strong and a huge leap forward in terms of safety, it has heavily influenced IMOCA yacht design, accounting for nearly 100% of the boat structure.
In 2021 the Class introduced its first Alternative Materials Rule whereby the teams can experiment with alternative materials on removable part of their yachts. These include hatch covers, navigation seats and chart.
For the past three years, IMOCA teams have tried new alternatives for boat components like flax, hemp, recycled carbon, bio- resins, thermoplastics and various core elements such as balsa wood, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cork. These alternatives were not to replace the structural carbon epoxy parts but to experiment with new mechanical properties and lower environmental impacts on removable and non-structural parts.
Over 500kg of alternative material parts have been produced.
Groupe APICIL has developed the first natural fibre composite navigation seat for their IMOCA using flax fibres and bioresin. The seat will be used by Damien Seguin during the Vendée Globe 2024.
The first hands-on Alternative Material workshop took place in September 2024 for all IMOCA teams.
To further develop and improve knowledge surrounding alternative materials, the IMOCA Class organised, in collaboration with Innozh Composite, a training session over two half-days.
This session was dedicated to the implementation of these materials, including both practical and theoretical aspects. The training was led and supervised by Delphin PANTALONI, an expert in this field.
The session conveyed both practical and scientific knowledge to clarify misunderstandings and biases, as well as discuss the advantages and limitations of using these materials.
"Sport is a sector where the quest for performance is constant and drives innovation, particularly in the field of materials. Awareness of environmental impact is motivating the sector to question the trade-off between performance and durability in sporting goods. Alternative materials are part of the answer. Sport is therefore a driving force behind innovation, experimentation and the integration of alternative materials."
Delphin Pantaloni PhD
Project Lead at Innozh Composites
The Alternative Material Guide can be found 👉 HERE
This was published in October 2024 and contains a full briefing on all aspects of the use of new materials, including the successes and difficulties that teams and IMOCA have faced in this key area.
