When Athena lines up on the start line of the Women's America's Cup, every second on the water relies on countless hours of preparation behind the scenes.
At the heart of that operation is Boat Captain Sophie Heritage, whose role is to ensure the team's AC40 is ready to perform every time it leaves the dock.
"I'm the boat captain, so that involves the general running of the boat," Heritage explained. "Coming in every morning, making sure everything's on the yacht, making sure the systems checks are done correctly and that everyone working on the boat has everything they need.
"It's about making sure we can efficiently put out a platform that helps the sailors perform."
While many assume the role is purely technical, Heritage says one of the biggest surprises is just how much collaboration it requires.
"People would be surprised about the amount of talking and interacting you have to do. Everyone wants to know what's happening. You're involved in all the departments, which is really fun. I like being broadly across everything."
The upcoming campaign marks Heritage's second Women's America's Cup, and she believes the experience gained from Athena's inaugural campaign provides a significant advantage.
"When we started the last campaign, I'd never even seen an AC40 before," she said.
"Now we're coming into this campaign having gone from starting with nothing to finishing second in the Women's America's Cup. We're carrying forward everything we learned – the systems, the operational efficiency and how we work as a team."
Rather than specialising in one discipline, Heritage describes herself as someone who connects every department together.
"I'd say I'm a specialised generalist. I'm not a rigger and I'm not an electronics specialist, but I have a good understanding of everything."
"That means knowing how the systems work on the AC40, understanding the hydraulics, electronics and troubleshooting issues, while bringing together all of the different departments."
Every day begins with detailed system checks designed to identify even the smallest issue before it becomes a bigger problem.
"We run through systems checks every day. If there's any little change in calibrations or electronics, we know about it straight away. Those checks help us plan maintenance between training blocks and make sure the boat stays performing at its best."
Although the AC40 may appear relatively simple from the outside, Heritage says the technology hidden beneath the deck is anything but.
"There's not actually a huge amount of rope. Below deck there's a huge hydraulic system, electronic systems, GPS, high-tech compasses and three large lithium batteries that all need monitoring. There are so many technical components that all have to work together."
During racing, those responsibilities become even more demanding.
"Everything becomes more intense. You have less time between races but you still have to complete all the same checks.
"You have battery changes, foil changes, hydraulic checks and electronics checks, all while working to really tight timings. You have to be just as thorough, just much quicker."
Alongside the hands-on work, Heritage spends a surprising amount of time behind a computer.
"There's a lot of spreadsheets involved. I'm hands-on, but I'm also at my computer quite a lot. There's tracking, ordering, managing spare parts and planning maintenance. Keeping on top of all of that is a challenge, but it's a part of the job I really enjoy."
Despite narrowly missing out on victory in Barcelona, the Women's America's Cup final remains the standout moment of Heritage's career.
"The final of the Women's America's Cup was probably the best day I've had in this role. You've worked towards that moment for two and a half years and suddenly you're there, with a genuine chance of winning.
"Although we didn't win, it was still something to be incredibly proud of. That feeling is what drives you through this campaign."
Heritage believes her role is about bringing every department together and ensuring the team can operate seamlessly.
"Everyone has their own department, but it all has to be drawn together. I'm the person giving the final sign-off that the boat is ready to go sailing.
"If we have a breakdown on the water, I'm leading that response, feeding information back to the team and coordinating what needs to happen. I'm kind of the person who glues everything together."
Boats have been part of Heritage's life from the very beginning.
"I grew up in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and my dad is a boat builder. I can't remember a time when we weren't talking about boats."
After studying Physical Geography at the University of Southampton, internships across several sailing teams eventually led her to SailGP before joining Athena.
"I just wanted to learn as much as I possibly could."
Working alongside her brother at Athena has made the experience even more rewarding.
"I'm so lucky that we get on so well. We've grown up on the same sailing pathway, and now we're working together. We're only here to help each other and it's really special."
As one of the few female boat captains in elite sailing, Heritage hopes her work encourages others to believe they belong in the sport.
"I don't know many female boat captains. I think it's pretty cool that I get to do what I do as a woman in what's traditionally been a male-dominated industry.
"I just hope people think I did a good job. That the boat worked efficiently, we didn't lose sailing days because of breakdowns and that I helped the team perform. If that's the legacy I leave behind, then I'll be happy."
For anyone hoping to follow a similar path into elite sailing, Heritage's advice is simple.
"Keep asking questions. Be keen, be friendly and don't be afraid. If you don't know something, ask.
"There are lots of people in this industry who know so much and, if you're interested, they'll usually be happy to help.
"It's hard work, but it's so much fun. Just keep grafting, keep learning and your opportunity will come."