Refining Polars and Sail Charts

Polars and sail charts are crucial tools for sailors to ensure they have the right sail at the right time, but their accuracy requires effort. Report by Christopher Lewis for Sailing World:

The phone rings with an incoming WhatsApp call from Stuart Bannatyne. I’m at my desk at Google, so I jog to a conference room to have a private conversation. Bannatyne, from Doyle Sails, is a legend in the sailing world—and that’s no hyperbole. When it comes to leading successful grand-prix race programs, there’s nobody better. He cuts straight to the chase: “Lewy, you interested in going racing?”

“Yeah, Stu,” I answer. “Always interested to hear what you have on the boil.”

He’s got a new program shaping up for the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race, a TP52 named Summer Storm, a boat with a solid winning record and a new owner in Andrew Berdon. My excitement is building, but I keep my cool while mentally running through the checklist of elements needed for a ­successful program. – Full report