Live Usability Testing During the Ilhabela Sailing Competition

Between July 20th and July 28th, part of our team at Amalgama, our Product Owner Pato and Designer Fhen, embarked on an exciting journey to Ilhabela, a beautiful island located four hours from São Paulo, Brazil.

Our mission?

To conduct live usability testing of one of our products, Viramos, during one of the largest sailing events in Latin America—the 51st International Sailing Week of Ilhabela (SIVI).

What is SIVI?

SIVI is an annual event held at the Yacht Club of Ilhabela (YCI), attracting over 800 sailors from across the globe. This year, the event’s organizers reached out to us, expressing interest in using Viramos to manage claims from competitors. We eagerly accepted as this event provided an ideal environment to observe how our product performed in real-world conditions.

Which were our goals?

Our goal for the trip was twofold.

1. We aimed to gather real-time feedback from actual users—competitive sailors—who would be using Viramos during the regatta. This feedback would be crucial in identifying any pain points or opportunities for improvement in the product.
2. We sought to explore new commercial opportunities by networking with key stakeholders in the sailing community, including club members, event organizers, and potential partners, to help Viramos keep growing its Latam presence.

Our journey: what did we do?

Analysis of the Onboarding Process in Real-Life Contexts

From day one, our Amalgama duo immersed themselves in the event. Our first task was to visit the accreditation stand, where they observed the initial steps competitors took as they prepared for the regatta. Understanding this process was crucial, as it represented the first touchpoint in the user journey with Viramos.

If you’re a frequent app user, you know how important a product’s first touchpoints are. As app developers, we’re well aware that the onboarding experience plays a crucial role in driving conversions and determining success, so we take this step very seriously when designing and building. If you are interested in knowing more about onboarding processes, specifically in fitness products, here’s an article for you to check out!

On Site Support

Throughout the week, our Amalgama team actively engaged with the sailing teams, event organizers, and other key stakeholders. We provided on-site support to the race committee, particularly in the management and recording of race results. This hands-on involvement was instrumental in identifying areas where our product could be enhanced to better serve the needs of its users.

User Interviews & Prototype Testing

In addition to support, we conducted extensive interviews with competitors, gathering detailed feedback on their experiences with Viramos. This direct interaction with the end-users was invaluable, as it provided additional insights of those we would’ve captured through user testing sessions. We also took the opportunity to test a prototype of our new layout with nine sailors, collecting feedback that would guide the next phase of product development.

Networking

Networking was another key focus of the trip. We established connections with members of influential sailing clubs, including the Yacht Club Rio de Janeiro and the Club Náutico de San Isidro. These relationships opened the door to potential collaborations and the expansion of Viramos into new markets. We also met with the owner of North Sails Brazil, a key figure in the sailing industry, who could become a strategic partner in our future marketing efforts.

What did we learn?

What We Learned for the Product

The live usability testing during SIVI provided us with a wealth of insights that will directly influence the future development of Viramos.

One of the most significant findings was the need to streamline the process of calculating race results. Currently, this process involves multiple steps and a complex set of rules. By integrating Viramos more closely with the registration system, we identified an opportunity to simplify this process, potentially saving the race committee considerable time and reducing the risk of errors.

The feedback we received from the sailors who tested our new layout prototype was also incredibly valuable. Their input highlighted areas where the user interface could be improved to enhance usability, particularly under the time constraints and pressures typical of a regatta.

Overall, the insights gained from this trip will help us make Viramos a more robust and user-friendly product, better equipped to handle the demands of competitive sailing.

What We Learned as a Team

Beyond the technical insights, this trip was a powerful learning experience for our team in terms of how we approach product development and user engagement.

• Being in the midst of the event, we were able to see firsthand the challenges they face and understand the context in which our product is used. This is why it is so important for founders and development teams to have to opportunity to observe users while they interact with the product in their natural habitat. By walking in our users’ shoes—or, in this case, sailing in their boats—we gained a deeper appreciation for the nuances of their needs and how our product can help meet them.
• Additionally, the trip reinforced the value of building strong relationships within the industry. The connections we made with sailing clubs, event organizers, and potential partners are invaluable assets that will help us grow Viramos and expand its reach. These relationships will also provide us with ongoing opportunities for feedback and collaboration.

Closing Up…

In conclusion, our journey to Ilhabela was a resounding success. It provided the team critical insights that will shape the future of Viramos, strengthened our team’s approach to product design and user engagement, and opened up new avenues for commercial growth. We are excited to apply what we’ve learned and continue pushing the boundaries of what Viramos can achieve, both on and off the water.