The E-Telltale of the Future
The E-Telltale's Interest
Developed and improved for more than 15 years by Mer Agitée, the E-Telltale® allows the visual information from the wool telltale to be transformed into electronic data. This system, developed, tested, and proven by Michel DESJOYEAUX, has demonstrated its efficiency and durability.
We aimed to develop a system that provides access to sail trim information day and night, in all weather conditions, with the goal of enabling real-time performance analysis.
Its Interest
The E-Telltale® allows the transformation of visual wool telltale information into electronic format. This system has been developed, tested, and proven by MerAgitée and Michel DESJOYEAUX during the Vendée Globe (among other events), demonstrating its efficiency and durability.
The electronic telltale (E-Telltale®) enables real-time monitoring of the aerodynamic performance of a sail.
The E-Telltale® is a sensor that monitors the airflow state (hooked/laminar or unhooked/turbulent) on an aerodynamic profile in real time. It is a technology derived from offshore racing, highly beneficial in the sectors of commercial sailing, recreational marine sports, and wind energy. Optimizing the telltale adjustment allows for maximizing sail performance and harnessing the full potential of the wind.
Watch a video featuring Michel DESJOYEAUX, also known as “the professor,” discussing his E-Telltale® here.
Its Use
For a sail to be efficient, air must circulate freely on both sides (i.e., top and bottom) with smooth, laminar flows. The danger (and the hindrance) comes from turbulence. Telltales, strands of wool glued on each side of the sail, help visualize these flows.
Its Use
On the headsails, Telltales are the main indicators to help the helmsman or the trimmer. The strands of wool are glued on each side of the sail along the luff. Depending on their position, they allow us to optimize the laminar flow so that the sail is used to 100% of its potential.
Be careful not to install them too close to the forestay, which can cause turbulence (furler tube or carabiners). On the mainsail, the Telltales are placed on the leech.
They allow us to read the laminar flows along the entire height of the sail. The helmsman does not need them as much as the headsails, but they are useful for the mainsail trimmer who can use the sheet or the traveler.
The Possibilities
Learn more about what our E-Telltale®️ will allow you to do once installed on your boat
What You Can Do With It
– View your Telltales directly on your screens:
- On our TrimControl Application.
- On Adrena (V.20).
- On your Sailmon displays.
- Soon on NKE, Garmin, B&G and Raymarine displays.
– Retrieve data (as logs) to refine your polars and sails configurations.
– Indicate the sails used during your navigations to update Sailect on Adrena.
– Analyze your sailing to realize your settings on your tracks.
– Observe the premature wear of your sails thanks to a permanent control system. You will be able, from your cockpit, to refine your settings to limit wear and tear and to easily notice the adjustments that need to be made to the sail.
The Technique
So we have «transformed» this visual data into electronic information in order to be able to have the status of the E-Telltale®️ on the screen of our tablets, Adrena, Sailmon multifunction displays, NKE displays and more…
The Technique
With a size of about 8cm by 4 and a weight of 50g, the E-Telltale® is connected to an electronic system that will be able to interpret its movements at 360 degrees but also its elongation in order to refine the data.
Our E-Telltale® will soon be compatible with the multifunctional screens (MFD) B&G, NKE, Raymarine and Garmin.


Our History
At Trimcontrol™, the E-Telltale® created with the help of Michel DESJOYEAUX is not new : in fact, many versions of the telltale have been tested and improved in order to offer the product in its most functional and adapted version
Our History
Since then, the final version has already been tested by professionals on several famous races: The trimaran MACIF with François GABART, the SMA monohull with Paul MEILHAT , Michel DESJOYEAUX on the famous Vendée Globe, but also on other types of boats such as imo-cases, racing-cruising boats, super-yachts…
Labeling & Awards
Find here all the certifications and awards that the E-Telltale®️ from TrimControl has received since the beginning of its creation.
The TrimControl Documentation
The press talks about it
Click below to access our press review and dive into the articles about us !
The TrimControl App
Only (for now) compatible with Windows. Available with instructions for use.
- Rte de Port-la-Forêt, 29940 La Forêt-Fouesnant, France
- 02 79 65 38 54
- contact@trimcontrol.solutions
