A tour of the ballast tank on an IMOCA

In this video, Pip explains how the ballast tank works onboard.
🎥 Lloyd Images
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[@SeawolvesTV]

carbon pipes looks so damn cool! :)

[@Chris.from.1950]

Very cool system! Thanks, Pip, for showing us, down to this level of detail, how MEDALLIA works! You’re the best! ❤🎉

[@joetaylor5]

Interesting!
Is the scoop strong enough to fill the windward side tank? Or do you have to fill a tank before the boat heels to much?

[@SLCompulsion]

And I'm confused, at 2:25, why would you want to move the water from the high side to the low side (downhill) when tacking? Don't you want the water on the high side?

[@joetaylor5]

​@@SLCompulsionCorrect, the water should be on the high side to help the righting moment. The clever bit here, I think, is when you tack. To get the water to the other side, you use gravity instead of a pump.
So you drain your windward water ballast shorty before you tack, so you can use the hight difference.
Pip, maybe you could show a real-time tack? Like, how long does the water ballast take? Do you feel the difference in the boats behaviour?

[@SLCompulsion]

@@joetaylor5 Seems like tricky maneuver, compromising the righting moment before tacking. I agree, I love to see the maneuver! Thanks for the comment Joe and the video Pip!

[@SLCompulsion]

@@joetaylor5 Another thought (question) ... there must be air vents somewhere otherwise a draining tank would create a vacuum and a filling tanks needs to let the air out. Pip?

[@PipHareOceanRacing]

Yes there are, out onto the deck.