Initiatives-Coeur

Fusing adventure and altruism, Initiatives-Cœur is on a mission to conquer the oceans while saving the lives of children born with serious heart defects. The French sailing team competes in high-profile racing events to rally public support and raise crucial funds for the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque charity. During the races, Initiatives-Cœur’s sponsors donate money to the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque charity for every social media engagement to save hundreds more children’s lives. Since its inception in 2012, the team has proudly sponsored heart surgery for 385 children – bringing them from their homes in disadvantaged countries to France where they undergo life-saving procedures.

On November 10, 2024, Initiatives-Cœur embarked on its latest – and most daring – fundraising venture, setting sail in the iconic Vendée Globe solo unassisted round-the-world race. British skipper Samantha Davies is at the helm of the Initiatives-Cœur IMOCA, a 60-foot sailing boat, tackling the challenging 45,000-kilometer (28,000 mile) journey around the globe via the Atlantic Ocean, passing the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Cape Leeuwin (Australia), and Cape Horn (Chile) before returning to Les Sables-d’Olonne in France. 

At the heart of this ambitious sailing campaign is a dedicated team of engineers and technicians who have worked around the clock to get the new boat ready for this ultimate endurance test. Throughout the journey, Dassault Systèmes has been an invaluable partner, equipping the team with essential design, engineering and simulation solutions, backed by industry-leading expertise.

“Our team consists of nearly ten experts with diverse skills in areas like carbon fiber, electronics, aerodynamics and mechanics,” said David Sineau, team manager at Initiatives-Cœur. “Dassault Systèmes has been with us for nearly ten years, providing the solutions our engineers need in the design office and has proven particularly valuable for this campaign as we developed and built a brand-new boat.”

Initiatives-Cœur’s boat for the current Vendée Globe campaign features a unique skiff hull shape, designed to skim over waves rather than dive into them for smoother, more consistent speed. Foils add power by increasing the boat’s righting moment, helping it stay upright when catching wind and lifting the boat to reduce drag.

Striking the perfect balance between reliability and performance is key to maintaining a competitive edge – an ongoing challenge that benefits from the support of Dassault Systèmes, whose advanced solutions facilitate precision and creativity in every aspect of the design process.

“The essence of design – whether for a part or the entire boat – hinges on achieving that balance,” Sineau said. “Dassault Systèmes supports us by providing the necessary tools for this process and making sure we get everything perfectly right in the virtual world first. It means we can do much more internally than before, saving us time and money while improving quality.”

Mathieu Vincent joined the Initiatives-Cœur team three years ago, bringing a passion for sailing and expertise in engineering. As a design office engineer, Vincent creates critical components like rudders, keels and foils. His role also extends into simulations and analysis, making continuous design tweaks to push the boundaries of what’s possible with the vessel at sea.

“Two years ago, we upgraded the boat’s rudder systems by replacing the textile tie rods with rigid tie rods,” Vincent said. “I designed the new systems using SOLIDWORKS to analyze the kinematics and create the drawings needed to manufacture the components in our hangar. Having both the design and simulation tools in the same environment – the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud – saves significant time and allows me to do multiple iterations quickly. It’s easier to control the tolerances and end up with a final part that closely meets the initial specifications.”

In the world of competitive sailing, a boat is a living, evolving entity. Since launching its boat in July 2022, Initiatives-Cœur’s use of Dassault Systèmes’ cutting-edge fluid and durability simulation technology has transformed its performance on the water.

“We gather a large amount of data from the boat’s embedded sensors and optical fibers,” Sineau said. “We process this data to optimize how the boat is used and essentially create a user manual for our skipper to follow during the race.”

When the team decided to build a second set of foils for the boat, it took the opportunity to improve their performance and address key issues like stability and speed. With SIMULIA, it was able to refine the design and enhance the boat’s acceleration.

“We discovered that our foils started working too late, only kicking in when the boat reached 15 to 16 knots,” Sineau said. “To enhance responsiveness, we added more power to the end of the foil. By testing the foils virtually, we significantly improved the design and achieved speeds we had never reached before.”

In another instance, Vincent and the team used Dassault Systèmes’ combined 3D modeling and simulation capabilities (known as MODSIM) to design new jockey poles that could withstand the extreme conditions of offshore racing.

“Jockey poles are used to spread the clew [the lower rear corner] of large headsails when sailing downwind,” Vincent explained. “These poles have a base with a fork and chainplate that must endure heavy loads. Using SOLIDWORKS and SIMULIA, I designed and validated the kinematics, simulating different load cases with varied angles to make sure it would be reliable at sea. The parts have performed flawlessly.”

In endurance competitions, the ability to troubleshoot at sea can mean the difference between finishing or having to abandon the race. When challenges arise, skipper Davies must quickly assess the situation, asking herself two crucial questions: What is the problem, and how can it be solved? This is where the power of the virtual twin comes into play, serving as a lifeline in turbulent waters. Exploring the detailed 3D model of the boat, the team can anticipate Davies’ needs and provide real-time insights, whether it’s determining how to access a bolt or guiding her through complex repairs.

Davies and the team are no strangers to encountering issues at sea. The team was forced to withdraw from a previous edition of the Vendée Globe after the boat collided with an underwater object and sustained significant damage. The team used the boat’s virtual twin to identify the issue and make the required replacement parts before the vessel returned to shore. Davies was then able to complete her journey around the globe outside of the competition to honor her commitment to the Initiatives-Cœur mission.

“I needed my team’s help to reach safety,” Davies said. “They used the 3D model to assess the damage, determine how fast I could sail, and evaluate the risks as I navigated to shore. Some internal structural parts needed replacing, and thanks to the 3D software, they were able to precisely calculate and build what was needed before I arrived. It saved us four to five days and allowed me to safely continue sailing around the world to raise awareness for the charity.”

The virtual twin also helps Davies assess how to reach and repair damaged parts. Meanwhile, the team onshore can monitor the vessel to ensure that any damage won’t continue to deteriorate.

“The 3D model helps us determine what Sam can or cannot do based on accessibility and available tools,” Sineau said. “For example, will she be able to access a bolt to tighten it? It’s also important for us to provide her with visual aids, like an exploded view of a system, to guide her in making repairs.”

Every race brings its own set of challenges, including technical hurdles and unpredictable weather. Yet skipper Davies and team Initiatives-Cœur are cautiously optimistic about their chances in the Vendée Globe solo, round-the-world venture.

“The Vendée Globe is an amazing race because of its unpredictability – that’s part of its magic,” Davies said. “We’ve built an incredible boat and I’m excited to get out there and sail. Throughout the race, every time we raise €12,000, that’s enough money to pay for a child to come to France and receive life-saving surgery.”

For Initiatives-Cœur, this legendary race is, of course, not just a test of endurance but an opportunity to grow its reputation and continue raising awareness of the charity it supports. The team is constantly pushing the boundaries of what it can do, using Dassault Systèmes’ technology to take on the raw power of the ocean.

“I hope that the next campaign will allow us to explore new territories and further develop our boat’s capabilities,” Sineau said. “I believe Dassault Systèmes’ technology can continue to enhance our racing analysis and improve the interaction between the shore team and the boat, especially when it comes to problem-solving.”

For now, though, the Initiatives-Cœur team remains focused on the challenge ahead, channeling its energy and expertise into a strong performance – both at sea and in its mission to save lives.

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