Measuring pressure in the keel cylinder

Sailing has existed as a means of transportation for millennia, and the spirit of sporting excellence is as old as humanity itself. This combination has led to the emergence of sports such as regattas.

In the "Vendée Globe," a round-the-world regatta held every four years, 167 solo sailors set off on the Clipper route. This route starts in Les Sables-d'Olonne (a town in western France on the Atlantic coast) and crosses the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa).

The route goes clockwise around Antarctica via Cape Leeuwin (the southwestern point of the Australian continent), through Cape Horn (Tierra del Fuego, southern Chile), and then returns to Les Sables-d'Olonne.

From November to February, participants must cover 44,000 km. Sailors may anchor but not dock at a pier or alongside another vessel. Besides this, they receive no other assistance (except for weather updates or route information). Only if participants encounter a problem at an early stage are they allowed to return to the start for repairs. A restart must occur within 10 days of the official start. 

Skipper Isabelle Joschke

French-German skipper Isabelle Joschke participated in this challenging race in the 2020/2021 season on her IMOCA boat, MASCF.

IMOCA boats are equipped with a tiltable keel. The advantage of a tiltable keel is that when the keel is tilted toward the windward side, the boat's heel is reduced. In the event of a possible capsize, the boat can be righted by tilting the keel to its maximum depth.

Since 2014, the tiltable keel has become mandatory in sailing races. The French company Hydroem supplies installation kits for IMOCA boats equipped with this type of keel.

The keel is operated by a hydraulic cylinder built into the boat's floor and connected to the keel. The distributor is located between the hydraulic unit (electric motor, hydraulic pump, and oil tank) and the hydraulic cylinder. It contains the electrical valves necessary to control the hydraulic pressure.

KELLER 21Y Pressure Transmitter as a Pressure Sensor in the Keel Cylinder

The KELLER 21Y pressure transmitter is also connected to the distributor and measures the pressure in the keel cylinder. The skipper can directly control the system and the keel using the control unit. She can use it to power the distributor or, to save energy, lower the keel using the "release" button.

Hydraulic cylinder built into the boat floor

Hydraulic unit

On the 62nd day of the race, skipper Isabelle Joschke withdrew due to technical problems. Unfortunately, even the correct use of KELLER pressure transmitters could not prevent this. At that time, she was in 11th place and was the first woman in the Vendée Globe race.

Despite the difficulties, Isabelle Joschke showed a commendable result. She was driven by determination and inner strength, as she was one of six women participating in the 2020/2021 race. Her next opportunity will be in 2024.

Keel control unit

Distributor with electric valves

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