We were on board alongside Régis Vian and his daughter Clémence for the calibration and initial setup of their Exocet Essential system, installed on their brand-new JPK 10.50 — hull number 3 of the series. It was a rich, committed, and 100% productive sea trial: first adjustments, technical support, sporty conditions...

Régis shares his first impressions after a windy outing — full of promise.

an ambitious program

I was lucky enough to launch a JPK 10.50 at the beginning of 2025, a boat that will allow me to sail doublehanded in several races: Armen Race, La Trinité–Cowes, and the Fastnet. I’m also aiming for the Cap Martinique in the near future.

Such a demanding program required a pilot that could offer not only reliability and responsiveness… but true helming intelligence. 

Thrilling Conditions and Proven Performance from the First Sail

We went out for a first sail in 25 knots of wind — ideal conditions to test the autopilot. The result? The boat hit nearly 19 knots, under pilot. It was incredible! It relaunches smoothly, holds its course, and chases speed with real fluidity.

The tone was set. From this first intense outing, Exocet Essential demonstrated its ability to hold course, optimize relaunches in strong wind, and perform maneuvers — all with a simple and intuitive user experience.

A Guided First Experience

At Pixel sur Mer, we provide complete onboard support, combining technical expertise with hands-on assistance to ensure smooth first use of the system.

It’s a system with a lot of potential. You need to learn to use it well from the start to get the most out of it. Hugo spent the whole day on board with me — it was super helpful. Having someone there really makes a difference.

Valuable Onboard Feedback

This honest, sharp feedback reinforces the design choices made by the Pixel sur Mer team. It perfectly embodies our ambition: to deliver a system that combines performance and ease of use, becoming a true crew member on board.

A real-life use case that reflects a clear vision: designing solutions that support skippers with fluidity, relevance, and efficiency.