Vela Lab

Vela Lab is an initiative led by Zoé Mériguet and Paco Stil, an oceanography PhD and an oceanographic engineer committed to developing new approaches to ocean observation. Faced with a lack of ocean data due to the high costs and limited availability of research vessels, the project explores the potential of sailing boats as platforms of opportunity for scientific research.

In collaboration with several research laboratories, the project tests and validates robust, low-impact scientific instruments adapted to the constraints of sailing. These tools are designed to collect data that is essential to understanding climate change and marine biodiversity, while complementing existing ocean observation systems.

Beyond its scientific dimension, Vela Lab promotes a human-centred and citizen-driven approach to research. The project aims to bring the general public closer to ocean issues and, in the longer term, to develop a sustainable network of sailing boats of opportunity serving science.

After several years working in research laboratories, Vela Lab grew out of our observation that the ocean is changing faster than our ability to monitor it. Data remains too scarce and too sporadic, even though it is essential to understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate change.

The initiative aims to address this gap by exploring a complementary approach based on the use of sailing boats as accessible and sustainable platforms of opportunity for scientific research.

Support from the AETHER Fund helps cover the sailing boat’s operating costs, which are essential for developing and validating instruments suited to sailing conditions, while also helping to build the project for the long term.