Sail plan: what architectural choices can improve efficiency in blue water cruising Olivier Racoupeau's vision [Episode 4/5]

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A well-designed sailboat starts with a coherent sail plan. In this episode, Olivier Racoupeau shares his approach to balancing efficiency, balance, and ease of use:

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- Effective sail area vs. displayed area: not all meters are equal. Actual performance depends on the projected area, not just the total figure. The goal: less sail, but better use of it.

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- Rigging developments: no more high-overlap genoas. Aft-angled spreaders, widely spaced chain plates, and a lighter mast improve stability, reduce pitching, and allow for simpler, more efficient sails.

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- Continuity of transitions: to ensure good performance under sail, the transitions between genoa, gennaker, and staysail have been carefully designed to avoid any "gaps" in power between configurations.

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- Reduced use of reefed sails: by anticipating optimal operating ranges during the design phase, it is possible to minimize the use of furling sails, extending their service life and facilitating navigation.

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In short, a good sail plan means less surface area, but better performance and, above all, a sailboat that is easy to handle, even with just two people. This philosophy guides every Allures design from the drawing board onwards.

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Bonus

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This video is part of a series of five episodes designed to provide a better understanding of Allures' technical approaches.

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Discover episode 5: Composite deck on aluminium hull why does this combination make sense, according to Olivier Racoupeau?

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