By analysing coach boat usage specifically from the Paris 2024 event, the company has identified three key areas where the sailing community can make a significant environmental and financial impact.

1. Choose Your Engine Wisely

One of the most straightforward findings relates to motor choice. The data from Paris 2024 showed a wide range of engines in use, from 40 to 115 horsepower. By measuring efficiency in litres per nautical mile, the analysis revealed a stark efficiency divide: smaller motors in the 40, 60, and 70 horsepower classes were found to be twice as efficient as their larger counterparts.

For most coaching duties, the operational difference between a 70hp and an 80hp engine is almost unnoticeable. Yet, making this small switch could have a huge effect. The analysis from the Olympic event alone identified a potential saving of 500 litres of fuel just by optimising motor size across the fleet.

2. The Human Factor: It’s How You Drive It

Perhaps the most surprising insight was the massive impact of piloting behaviour on fuel efficiency. The analysis focused not on how much fuel was used, but on how well the boat was operated. The results were stark: by bringing less efficient drivers up to the standard of the top performers, a 15% gain in efficiency is possible. This highlights a significant opportunity for improvement through targeted eco-piloting training, focusing on practical skills such as optimal throttle management and efficient planing.

The difference within a single team can be huge, as Oria Marine’s CEO, Antoine Desferet, explained.

“Basically, it means that you have one pilot, you’re doing 40% better than another pilot… And maybe if you identify who it is… and that you let them talk and show each other what they are doing right or wrong, then basically you can have 40% gaining fuel consumption and efficiency”.

3. Right-Sizing the Fleet

The final key area is fleet optimisation. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the event organisation had 101 boats available, but at peak usage, only 61 were on the water at the same time. This suggests that fleets are often oversized, leading to unnecessary maintenance, resource use, and costs.

Furthermore, daily usage data showed that 75% of the entire fleet travelled less than 14.7 nautical miles per day. This relatively low daily distance not only reinforces that many boats are overpowered for their typical use but also opens the door for alternative propulsion.

With many electric boats now capable of covering that range, the data provides a solid foundation for federations to begin transitioning parts of their fleet away from fossil fuels.