Timely

Think of Renaud Bañuls and it is likely as designer of Thomas Coville’s Ultim Sodebo. But while these giant trimarans rip up the oceans Bañuls is also applying himself to his other passion of minimising the harm that even a fragile racing yacht can do to our fellow mammals

The time has come to improve the way we race offshore
It is no longer a secret that offshore racing regularly involves collisions with marine megafauna including whales, turtles and large fish. Worldwide more than 75 marine species are known to be affected by vessel strikes (including from yachts of all types), mainly large commercial and passenger ships, but also by sailing boats (source: International Whaling Commission). It is difficult to estimate the number of animals struck by these vessels, either because collisions are not reported or because the vessel does not notice the collision (as is usually the case with larger ships).