The present work discusses an upwind case study about full scale measurements gathered during navigation on the Politecnico di Milano Sailing Yacht Laboratory (SYL). SYL is a 10m sailing boat, consisting in standard instrumentation, integrated dynamometer, a 3D flying shape detection system and distributed pressure sensors on sails. Particular attention was devoted to pressure measurements: full scale results are analysed and compared with wind tunnel test. The comparison of full scale/wind tunnel pressure distributions holds consistently, with the highest differences observed in the regions close to the leading edge. Critical aspects related to performing full scale measurements are also discussed.

This paper presents an overview of the Lecco Innovation Hub project and in particular to the Sailing Yacht Lab project a 10 m length sailing yacht which aims to be a full scale measurement device in the sailing yacht research field. A description of scientific framework, measurement capabilities as well as of the principal design, building process, project management and commissioning is provided with some examples of preliminary collected data obtained during the first sea trials. Finally an overview of the ongoing project tasks and future project developments is provided including potential research and knowledge achievements for sailing yacht research field.

The hydrodynamic impact, or hydro-impact, phenomenon caused by slamming on racing yachts and the local structure’s response is studied experimentally. Pressure transducers and a special measurement system named ‘Slam Patch’ have been designed and implemented to measure the hydro-impact pressure and/or the local structure’s response. The measurement systems were installed on a 1/7-scale model of an Open 60 yacht. Modal, rotational drop, and seakeeping-slamming tests are carried out. The measured hydro-impact pressure was processed statistically. A methodology to scale up the test results to prototype is mentioned. At the same time, the transient response of a simple structure under half-sine impulse is calculated using a commercial finite element analysis program to study the effect of the relationship between impulse duration and natural frequency of the structure.