SAP Transforms World of Sailing with Big Data Analytics

At Extreme Sailing Series in Oman, New Wind Measurement Technology Transforms Experience for Sailors, Media, and Fans

MUSCAT, Oman - 11 March 2015- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) demonstrated today how it has transformed the world of sailing through Big Data analytics, transforming the experience for sailors, fans, and media, at Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Muscat, Oman.

SAP returns as the Official Technical Partner of the Series, and title sponsor of the SAP Extreme Sailing Team, which uses SAP HANA to enhance team performance, while enabling fans and the media to better understand the most important topic in sailing: wind.

New to the 2015 series, SAP is deploying wind buoys on each race course, extending the quality and volume of the data available by measuring the wind at different points.

The information gathered will be displayed on the live leader board, which can display optimal tracks based on wind and course layout data, enabling sailors to further analyze their strategy and identify shortcomings, and broadcasters to comment on the track teams have chosen - all in real-time.

“Sailing is an incredibly complex sport, and our innovative technology solutions unleashed today in Oman leverage the power of Big Data to help teams perform better and the Extreme Sailing Series to run simpler, while providing unprecedented insights for sailors, fans, and race organizers,” said Gergi Abboud, Managing Director, SAP Gulf.

SAP will also continue to use analytics solutions to handle data from sensors on the boats and across the race course to provide the sailors and broadcasters with improved post-race automated reports.

These reports are tailored to individual requirements, with the ability to break down the complex data sets to supply, for instance, an overview of a specific team, an Act, a day, or even a race.

“Having SAP on board as our Official Technology Partner has allowed us to stay at the forefront of innovation in the sailing world. The use of wind buoys, to provide enhanced race data, and the improved live leaderboard will provide our competitors, commentators and media with an enhanced experience, like never seen before,” commented Andy Tourell, Project Director, Extreme Sailing Series.

Rasmus Kostner, Co-skipper, SAP Extreme Team Sailing, looks towards Act 2: “In Oman, the challenges on the water differ greatly from Singapore, the wind is consistent and strong, our preferred conditions for optimum performance so it will be more about the getting the small things right: our position on the start line and throughout the course.”

“We’re determined to deliver just as exciting racing and keep fighting in Muscat to hold our position and capitalise on our energised and focused team. The desire to win is the lifeblood of the team now - it’s time to focus and continue the rush of winning,” Kostner said.