During his successful reverse circumnavigation of the world, skipper Guirec Soudée not only achieved a sporting feat but also helped validate a technological innovation.
For the first time a PlanktoScope and an automated sampling prototype developed by FairScope operated throughout a full circumnavigation under some of the most extreme conditions on Earth.
Integrating a precision optical and fluidic instrument on board a racing sailboat was a major engineering challenge.
From installation to daily use, everything had to be adapted to the constraints of offshore sailing.
This achievement would not have been possible without Guirec’s commitment, curiosity and his willingness to bring a scientific dimension to his journey.
Beyond hardware robustness, this mission marks an important step forward. We automated sampling, simplified data transfer, and enabled remote monitoring via satellite connection, showing that a vessel can become an autonomous and connected observation platform.
This experience opens the door to new challenges and future collaborations with research laboratories and technical partners to further improve onboard scientific protocols.
We would like to thank Guirec Soudée and the entire Team Guirec for their trust, availability and support during the integration phase, which was key to the success of this mission. We also thank Bpifrance for its financial and strategic support. This support allows us to continue testing our innovations in real conditions and contribute to the democratization of ocean observation.
Photo credit: Likko (aerial arrival view).