United Arab Emirates

SailGP

More than a speculative future concept, the AERA catamaran represents the convergence of mature technologies assembled with an emphasis on simplicity and sustainability. Research and testing have shown the project is both feasible and buildable. The focus now is on systems integration and production scaling.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371664/image/large-bcc3594f61ee7b5986053ac54a532b0c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371664">Developed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> in collaboration with sister company <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rondal B.V. (Company)">Rondal</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artemis Maritime (Company)">Artemis Technologies</a>, and designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D Rover</a>, AERA is a technical study into the feasibility of combining wind-dominant propulsion, low-drag hydrodynamics and alternative energy systems within the constraints of a large luxury yacht.&nbsp;The 50-metre catamaran builds on the shipyard’s Project Tidal Shift, an internal innovation initiative that identified increased utilisation of sail power and systemic reductions in energy demand as the most effective pathways towards sustainability. From the outset, the project followed an engineering-first methodology in which energy demand and drag were reduced before alternative energy sources were applied. This approach informed decisions across platform selection, structural engineering, rig design and onboard energy systems.“Early concept development did not initially assume either a multihull platform or a wing sail,” says Herman de Jong, innovation manager at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>. “Our initial investigations focused on automation of conventional rigs and the use of delivery sails to reduce dependence on costly sail inventories.”Collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artemis Maritime (Company)">Artemis</a> introduced the possibility of wing-based propulsion, with early consideration given to soft wing concepts derived from high-performance foiling monohulls. These were ultimately rejected due to the large structural loads required to shape the membrane, the resulting rig forces transferred to the hull, and the limited suitability for the operational profile of a superyacht. A rigid wing sail was identified as aerodynamically superior, functioning as a true air-foil with 10 times lower drag than a conventional tube mast (even with the sails lowered), while also allowing passive feathering when unloaded.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371695/image/large-f6fba2ad9ba66c269310feeea6a26fee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371695">Active control“Wing sails have been proven in racing environments such as the America’s Cup and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>,” argues Dr Iain Percy, founder and CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artemis Maritime (Company)">Artemis Technologies</a>, himself an AC veteran and double Olympic champion. “The challenge here is adapting that performance into a reliable, low-maintenance system suitable for a superyacht. To do that, a significant part of the development has focused on active control to manage performance, comfort and manoeuvring across a wide range of conditions.”Initial testing of the wing concept was conducted using a free-standing, rotating carbon-fibre wing mounted on a J22 test platform. The trials confirmed the wing’s ability to passively align with the wind and maintain low drag, but also revealed some dynamic coupling between the wing’s oscillatory behaviour and the natural roll frequency of the monohull. These findings convinced the team to focus on a multihull configuration, as the increased initial stability of a catamaran minimises roll-induced excitation of the wing system and the loads on the two sets of bearings inside the yacht, although <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> does not preclude monohull applications in the future.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371647/image/large-3db5887279a6542cf289be78a33db442.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371647">“The wing sail concept is better suited to a catamaran platform as the rig remains upright and is not subjected to large heel-induced load variations,” explains de Jong. “By limiting heel angles, the vessel also avoids one of the primary deterrents for owners transitioning from motor yachts to sailing yachts, not to mention the absence of flogging sails and running rigging.”The wing comprises a thin aerodynamic Mylar skin supported by a carbon-fibre framework of spars, ribs and transverse plates, which manage the global bending and torsional loads much like the wings of an airplane. Controlled flexibility is incorporated into the design to allow the wing to twist under load, improving lift distribution and reducing peak stresses. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371658/image/large-87c2c4becc7abb55160fd76750f46e73.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371658">AutomationAutomation is fundamental to the operational viability of the wing system. Conventional sail handling is replaced by wing rotation and deflection of the four trailing-edge flaps, actuated by hydraulic cylinders at the root of each flap. Sensor-driven software continuously adjusts the wing’s angle of attack and flap configuration in response to wind conditions, reducing crew workload and minimising the risk of human error. The control algorithms are the result of CFD models developed in collaboration with Artemis, drawing on experience from high-performance sailing applications.&nbsp;Feathering is a critical safety feature, so if the active system fails the wing naturally aligns with the wind and minimises drag. In extreme or turbulent conditions, it is designed to depower automatically to a low-load, low-drag state without requiring crew intervention. Although it’s designed to remain upright in all weather conditions, a hydraulic hinge mechanism allows the entire wing to be lowered to reduce air draught for bridge clearance or maintenance purposes. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393334/image/large-cbf9c3c68a163712f4ddc521e251b194.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393334">From a lifecycle standpoint, Dr Percy points out that a wing sail replaces a consumable system with a permanent one. Conventional sails degrade and require regular replacement, whereas a properly designed wing can last for the life of the yacht. This permanence shifts cost and maintenance considerations away from periodic sail replacement towards upfront engineering and long-term reliability.“Manufacturing feasibility has also been a central consideration throughout development,” says Bart van der Meer, sailing system engineer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rondal B.V. (Company)">Rondal</a>. “Each rib of the wing requires a unique mould due to the changing airfoil geometry along the span. We expect production-scale moulds are expected to be fabricated from milled aluminium to ensure dimensional accuracy and repeatability.”Although these challenges are not trivial, they are a question of process optimisation rather than unresolved technical risk.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393329/image/large-e0fb3f469c6062ee583c2c1998445a5c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393329">Built like a bridgeStructurally, the AERA catamaran departs from conventional multihull architecture through the use of principles derived from cantilevered bridge design – notably the historic Koningshaven Bridge (also known as ‘De Hef’) close to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D Rover</a>’s studio in Rotterdam. The triangulated geometry spans large distances between pillars, enabling open-plan interiors and extensive glazing without visually dominant pillars.&nbsp;The asymmetrical geometry of the vessel is a functional response to spatial and structural requirements rather than an aesthetic gesture. Although the deck levels appear unsupported, structural integrity is maintained through clearly defined global load paths disguised in features such as staircases. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371698/image/large-b28b9a6de23b265903ea61bfe20d603d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371698">“The geometry follows the forces rather than being applied as a stylistic layer,” explains <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D Rover</a>. “Structural cut-outs allow semi-open areas to remain outside the tonnage calculations while still contributing to stiffness and spatial articulation. Despite this unconventional arrangement, the enclosed volume is carefully controlled at approximately 1,880 cubic metres, keeping the vessel below the 500 GT threshold.”Material selection for the hull and superstructure is centred on aluminium, chosen for its strength-to-weight ratio, recyclability, and compatibility with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>’s expertise in working with lightweight aluminium alloys. Weight control is particularly critical for a catamaran, as increased mass directly raises wetted surface area and drag. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artemis Maritime (Company)">Artemis Technologies</a> was closely involved in optimising the hull forms to balance hydrodynamic efficiency with superyacht functionality.“Our naval architects actually found the constraints of the superyacht design space to be a valuable tool in refining the hull shapes,” says Dr Percy. “By working within a predefined functional window that takes into account accommodation needs, utilities and other essential factors, they were able to focus on local optimisation and maximise the efficiency of the hull design.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393335/image/large-11dc06fc86174d979606f874bfc85d4a.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393335">Energy generationEquipped with two retractable, forward-facing, azimuthing thrusters, AERA’s energy generation is organised around a hybrid diesel-electric architecture and 580-kWh battery bank for efficient integration of multiple power sources. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> installed a similar system on 60-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8258" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sarissa59.7m (195'10&quot;)Royal Huisman2023">Sarissa</a> in 2023, but on AERA has added compressed hydrogen tanks for supplying a low-temperature PEM hydrogen fuel cell. With Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register, the system is designed to provide approximately 72 hours of silent hotel-load operation.As with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8258" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sarissa59.7m (195'10&quot;)Royal Huisman2023">Sarissa</a>, hydrogeneration plays a primary role during sailing with under-hull generators optimised for operating speeds between 11 and 12 knots. At these speeds, continuous power output of around 40 kW is achievable, sufficient to cover hotel loads and allow generators to remain offline. The fixed, low-drag hydrogenerators deliver optimal performance without the added complexity of retraction mechanisms – a solution that aligns with AERA’s ethos of simplicity and high efficiency.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393328/image/large-15f017ba3b5bb5892a3a52ed2dc5ad1c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393328">“Our simulations show that during a typical cruising week, including one visit shoreside when shore power is available, the yacht will not need to run her variable-speed gensets for hotel loads,” says Jidde Looijenga, innovation manager at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>. “They are needed only during motoring or motor sailing to generate electricity for the retractable propulsion system. Naturally, they can also run on HVO for substantial reductions in CO₂ and Nox emissions.”Together with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D Rover</a>, the shipyard team is exploring the integration of wind turbines to generate electrical power at anchor or in port. Any such system would be supplementary rather than critical and, as the designer notes, “would need to operate with very low noise and vibration to be acceptable in a yacht environment.” These ideas are not on the project’s critical path, but they illustrate potential future extensions of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>’s renewable energy strategy.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393332/image/large-3aaca815d143ace4293d0ef4519ca552.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393332">UsabilityBeyond technical feasibility, the AERA concept also addresses usability and the owner experience. The combination of automation, reduced manual sail handling, and increased comfort is intended to make sailing more accessible and as straightforward as operating a motor yacht.&nbsp;“Combined with reduced fuel consumption and lower operational emissions, this positions AERA as a bridge between motor and sailing yacht ownership,” says Looijenga.Overall, the catamaran represents a convergence of proven technologies and disciplined system integration rather than reliance on untested innovations. With its emphasis on simplicity, sustainability and lifecycle efficiency, the concept demonstrates that a wind-dominant, low-emission superyacht is technically achievable within available engineering and classification frameworks.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371693/image/large-d494cdf4de75a63242521821d563f54f.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371693">

Royal Huisman AERA catamaran

Royal Huisman's 50m hydrodynamic luxury yacht 

AERA catamaran: The wind-dominant, low-emission sailing superyacht

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8076" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marina Port Valencia (Company)">Marina Port Valencia</a> has been named as the host venue for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>’s Valencia event in the years ahead. The confirmation sees Valencia join a select group of global host cities for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, a championship known for its high-speed, technology-driven racing format and strong international following. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/348287/image/large-89d93deb8470c748634af5ed7a927a90.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/348287"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>’s arrival is expected to bring a significant influx of international teams, industry professionals and media, reinforcing Valencia’s reputation as a leading sailing destination. The event is also anticipated to generate wider economic and tourism benefits for the city, while strengthening its long-standing connection to the sea.The selection of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8076" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marina Port Valencia (Company)">Marina Port Valencia</a> reflects the marina’s ongoing redevelopment and modernisation programme, which aims to position the waterfront as a world-class venue capable of hosting major international events.&nbsp;Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/62614" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="First renderings of new Marina Port Valencia development unveiled (2025-02-14 12:45:00 +0100)">First renderings of new Marina Port Valencia development unveiled</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247301/image/large-beea6c531e5f4b8a2b7ffdbd60674df3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247301">The project combines upgraded infrastructure with a strategic location and a stated commitment to public engagement, innovation and sustainability within the wider yachting industry.The event is set to build on Valencia’s established sailing heritage, adding <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> to a growing list of elite competitions staged along its coastline.

SailGP names Marina Port Valencia as future race venue

Marina Port Valencia has been named as the host venue for SailGP’s Valencia event in the years ahead. 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> has unveiled the first renderings of a new 50-metre hybrid sailing catamaran AERA. The new design combines wind, water, hydrogen and biodiesel technologies to deliver a new approach to sustainable superyacht cruising.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371695/image/large-f6fba2ad9ba66c269310feeea6a26fee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371695"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> has invested several years of research and development into the project alongside sister company <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rondal B.V. (Company)">Rondal</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artemis Maritime (Company)">Artemis Technologies</a>, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D. Rover Design</a>. AERA builds on the shipyard's 2024 launch of Project Tidal Shift, an an environmental awareness initiative focused on ecological preservation<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371655/image/large-1e3d73a06964eeda61553e2c2f1c6477.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371655">At the centre of the design is a 35-metre wing sail, inspired by America’s Cup and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> technology, which enables AERA to transition from stationary to sailing in under a minute. The unstayed wing rotates 360 degrees and operates without sheets, winches, or deck hardware, instead relying on a fully automated system. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371709/image/large-3927f070900adb4cb4563465046a003b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371709"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371710/image/large-4d33c5c2c7822e3ca85efdd594e20b4e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371710">As a result of this, the captain can input a destination, direction or desired arrival time, while the sail adjusts automatically to suit conditions, supported by retractable electric sail drives when required.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371711/image/large-a3de84761ff9b4549dbf9e76087501f3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371711"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371712/image/large-21bdb87b6171924b57fed759201094c4.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371712">“Aboard AERA, while raising the anchor, the captain enters the destination, sets the wing to automatic trim, the wing sail responds, and you are sailing in less than a minute,” explained Jan Timmerman, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371698/image/large-b28b9a6de23b265903ea61bfe20d603d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371698">According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>, the wing offers 40 to 60 percent more efficiency than a conventional rig of similar size and has been tested for safe operation in extreme weather. The result is a yacht that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> describes as motoring and sailing with “levels of efficiency, stability, ease of operation and comfort never before achieved.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371693/image/large-d494cdf4de75a63242521821d563f54f.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371693">Moving inside, the catamaran includes an owner’s suite on the main deck and four guest staterooms below, accommodating up to 10 guests. The yacht features three decks and has been designed to optimise shading and reduce HVAC demand.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371666/image/large-715ef0f60565d3477c30c77335a09c19.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371666"><img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/371667/image/large-96955aecdddc1394d6b537da4f34f40a.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20250917%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20250917T134942Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=be71bfe36ed86c5881376a96faaa6712c2d827e0c44ca1b5c3050b283af1dc83" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371667">With an exterior profile by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D. Rover</a>, AERA offers 694 square-metres of deck space, while remaining below 500GT. AERA will have the space of a New York penthouse overlooking Central Park. Yet, each day a different, and better view,” added Cor D. Rover.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371663/image/large-52b1b1d879f6b5dbf1b17ba517cd0d27.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371663">A 580kWh battery bank can silently power the hotel load for up to 11 hours, recharged underway by hydro-generators or by a hydrogen fuel cell when at anchor. The yacht also carries three pressurised hydrogen bottles to provide up to 72 hours of additional zero-emission operation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371714/image/large-af1232e05223cf44ecc0d26d0ceb6475.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371714"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371656/image/large-320632efe0fed9a782661d52d2aeb8da.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371656">For longer-range motoring, generators powered by HVO biodiesel drive the electrical grid and the yacht’s 500kW azimuthing electric drive units, which are the same technology installed on the recently launched 59.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8258" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sarissa59.7m (195'10&quot;)Royal Huisman2023">Sarissa</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371647/image/large-3db5887279a6542cf289be78a33db442.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371647">“AERA represents more than technological advancement, it’s a complete redesign of sustainable luxury yachting that makes clean cruising irresistibly attractive to owners seeking both environmental responsibility and comfort,” concluded Timmerman.

AERA: Royal Huisman unveils 50m hybrid sailing catamaran

Royal Huisman has unveiled the first renderings of a new 50-metre hybrid sailing catamaran AERA. 

Royal Huisman unveils 50m hybrid sailing catamaran AERA with automated wing sail

Having come and gone more than once over the past 150 years, hydrofoils are all the rage again and here to stay this time. The latest technology has overcome many of the shortfalls of older systems, but are foiling superyachts feasible?<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308780/image/large-abca08ac22ef3c76d219eca23c4a28dd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308780">Over the past two decades foiling has taken off, literally and figuratively. It started with the innovative boards designed by surfers, followed by the specialist one-man classes like the foiling International Moths. Then came the high-performance sailing projects such as the 60-foot foiling trimaran l’Hydroptère, which broke the 50-knot barrier in 2008 and hinted at an exciting if highly specialised future for foils. But the idea of foils on mainstream leisure boats and superyachts has always seemed somewhat remote.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308784/image/large-93508982c0f2307aa183db514c6f8972.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308784">More recently, the advent of electric propulsion in tandem with the rising interest in foils, thanks largely to their adoption by the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="America's Cup 2024 - 37th America's Cup Barcelona">America’s Cup</a> sail racing programmes, has again brought foiling to the fore because they resolve a very basic problem. For boats with electric propulsion, or experimental hydrogen fuel cells in the case of the new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="America's Cup 2024 - 37th America's Cup Barcelona">America’s Cup</a> chase boats, hydrodynamic drag means that displacement hulls and (to a lesser extent) planing boats struggle to attain a practical range for the given power-carrying capacity between charging. It is here that foils offer a clear advantage: if you can get your boat to emerge from the water and ‘fly’, you don’t need to worry so much about drag and the given power you are carrying in your battery banks can take you that much further. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/255101/image/large-3c47262ba3d15266b43994009e44c595.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/255101">“Our strategy is go faster to go further,” says Michael Jost, former Chief Strategy Officer at the VW Group who oversaw the start of the Group’s long-term transition away from fossil fuels. It’s a game plan Jost is employing with his new venture, eD-TEC, which has developed the all-electric eD-QDrive system. SilentYachts is coupling the system with a foiling 28-foot HYSUCAT multihull design to create a 40-knot electric boat that the catamaran builder claims still offers a range of 70 nautical miles.Electric avenue&nbsp;Across the spectrum, the combination of foils and electric drive systems is taking hold. Small boat builders such as Swedish brand <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5799" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candela Speed Boat (Company)">Candela</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5737" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Enata Marine (Company)">Enata</a> in the Middle East, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6284" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Navier (Company)">Navier</a> in the US and Eldorado in the Netherlands, among others, are already building foiling leisure, passenger, water taxi and workboat vessels. The water toy world is alive with eFoil boards and the personal watercraft segment is also getting wise with projects such as the Valo Hyperfoil that adds retractable active foils to electric-drive jet skis.However, things get a little more complicated when it comes to larger craft. The advent of high-speed hydrofoil passenger vessels in the latter part of the 20th century was followed by a marked decline as the limitations of larger foilers became apparent – notably, the need for flat hulls with limited viability in bigger seas, and the potential for striking waterborne objects that could damage or destroy foils made from materials that were not as advanced as they are now.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308788/image/large-eb9a1f3f86b23adca1520c7e78078250.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308788">Considerable progress has been made in sailing with vessels such as the F50 used on the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> circuit, the new AC40 and AC75 yachts for the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="America's Cup 2024 - 37th America's Cup Barcelona">America’s Cup</a>, along with the Ultime trimarans and IMOCA 60s. All these boats show how consistent 40-to-50-knot-plus performance is possible through the extreme application of surface-piercing foil technologies. Indeed, there has even been a crossover with sailing yacht projects like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="King Marine S.A. (Company)">King Marine</a>’s FlyingNikka&nbsp;mini maxi and sailing superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Raven34.0m (111'7&quot;)Baltic Yachts2023">Raven 111</a> from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic Yachts</a> that use foils to mitigate some of the displacement rather than making the hull fully fly. At the same time, however, they have also highlighted some of the limits to mainstream adoption.The foil wing tips are one. Even when the arms are folded under the hull for docking, they project more than two metres either side the yacht. Then there is the complex (and expensive) structural engineering needed to build and mount the arms into the topsides. Finally, there’s the sailing aspect, which requires precision and experience when powered up in foil-assisted flight.Practical limits&nbsp;For Seattle-based naval architect Paul Bieker, one of the world’s foremost experts on hydrofoiling, sailing foilers will always be limited by these constraints: “I would be surprised if fully foiling configurations find a significant place in mainstream, non-professional sailing yachts,” he says. “They require a lot of sailing skill and focus, high maintenance, expensive equipment, and they have a significant potential for personal injury.”&nbsp;Retractable foiling systems like the Dynamic Stability System (DSS) developed by Hugh Welbourn, Gordon Kay and Will Brooks, offer advantages such as improved righting moment, reduced heel and better motion in a seaway, plus more stability for big-boat, big-sea sailing. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308786/image/large-d78769a2b71c292caceeab81b0112753.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308786">“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Raven34.0m (111'7&quot;)Baltic Yachts2023">Raven</a> is not a yacht you could imagine relaxing in – it’s a balls-to-the-wall affair,” says Henry Hawkins, Executive Vice-President at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic Yachts</a>. “But we used the DSS on the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic</a> 142 Canova and it’s a completely different kettle of fish. There was a wish for a &nbsp;performance increase, but it wasn’t the driving factor behind the owner’s decision to install it.”The design demands of creating a full-flight vessel are, for the most part, incompatible with larger luxury yachts. Weight is a critical issue, for one, and while that can be overcome by adding larger foils, which in turn offer a greater aspect ratio and therefore greater lift, but there is an upper limit to the practical design of hydrofoils.“In general, the weight of a vessel scales with the length squared and the amount of lift that you can get off a foil scales with length squared – this reality means that there is a point where hydrofoiling gets more difficult with increased size,” says Bieker. “That said, the control of active hydrofoils tends to get easier with size because the actuators do not have to move as fast as they do in a smaller boats with smaller foils.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308860/image/large-a60ff05e451e2cee5403bcbd867c7901.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308860">Bieker thinks there is more potential for moderate-sized foiling motor yachts: “The operating parameters for motor yachts are better defined and there is great potential for improving fuel consumption and comfort,” he says. “That said, they will still be significantly more expensive than non-foiling vessels.”Romain Ingouf is Technical Director at Artemis Technologies, a maritime engineering firm that emerged out of the Artemis Racing team that competed in the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/190" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="America's Cup 2024 - 37th America's Cup Barcelona">America’s Cup</a>. The Belfast-based company has partnered with Condor Ferries to develop the 24-metre Artemis EF-24, a commuter ferry equipped with electric eFoiler propulsion able to carry 150 passengers at a top speed of 36 knots with a range of 95 nautical miles. Ingouf suggests that 24 metres in length overall with a displacement of around 75 tons is the sweet spot for a foiling monohull powerboat design.“You don’t want to have a boat that has foils sticking out at the sides because you need to get alongside docks and manoeuvre around marinas, and so forth,” he says. “You can certainly go bigger, to as much as 36 metres most likely, but then very rapidly you need a very beamy boat to have the aspect ratio on your foil so you are more efficient at creating lift without adding too much drag. Is foiling the solution to everything? Very likely not, although it’s fantastic in some applications.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308857/image/large-849e3ed467e7f08e313e6c73c4f635a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308857">The future for foils?The future for foils beyond smaller vessels may be limited when it comes to full-flight solutions, but that doesn’t exclude potential for foils in large yacht design. Indeed, appendages that can improve efficiency and comfort – particularly when combined with stabilisation systems to offer multi-axis motion control – have been available for more than a decade. The Hull Vane, a fixed foil or wing designed and patented by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/460" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Oossanen Naval Architects (Company)">Van Oossanen Naval Architects</a> that was first fitted on the 42.4-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ares42.4m (139'1&quot;)Heesen Yachts2014">Alive</a> in 2012, has proven itself on more than 65 yachts as well as commercial and military vessels.“The Hull Vane is derived from a device we developed for the French America’s Cup campaign in 2002,” says Perry van Oossanen, the studio’s Managing Director. “It’s not really intended to make a boat a foiling vessel as it’s designed for displacement hulls; we’ve taken a different approach by taking the vessel as it is and trying to enhance performance where we can.”&nbsp;The effect is less radical, but so is the technology involved. The location of the Hull Vane under the transom is important relative to the centre of gravity and works best if there’s a steep upcoming flow, which means quite steeply angled buttocks to the transom, but it can be retrofitted on any type of displacement hull.“It works well for a Froude number [the resistance of a partially submerged object moving through water] of 0.2 and upwards,” says van Oossanen. “For a 50-metre boat you’re there at five or six knots, and for an 80-metre boat you’re there at around 13 to 14 knots. We’ve installed it on a 100-metre patrol boat, but essentially the bigger the yacht the faster it needs to go to gain maximum benefit of the Hull Vane.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308778/image/large-e6090620180e08c2025c730977695724.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308778">Hull Vane BV has also developed Foil-Assist, a partial foiling solution mounted amidships on fast planing vessels that applies the same concept to fast hulls and was first used two years ago on a Wajer runabout. It should be noted that both the Foil-Assist and Hull Vane increase not only efficiency but also onboard comfort – an important consideration for any yacht owner. &nbsp;“However, although applications for foils are definitely increasing, there are a lot of owners out there who are not really interested in the foiling stuff,” warns van Oossanen. “They want to have volume, space and luxury and they don’t necessarily want to cruise at 30 knots.”While that may be true, foiling technology is set to grow, particularly as the superyacht industry enters its own energy transition. Even if methanol in reformers for fuel cells or multi-fuel engines becomes the energy carrier of choice, its energy density is considerably lower for a given volume compared to conventional diesel. So while the fuel may be cleaner, yachts will need to burn less of it for a given volume of tankage to avoid losing too much practical range, while adding more tanks means taking volume away from guest areas. In this scenario, non-flight hybrid foiling solutions could find their niche in mainstream yacht production and there may be a place for more extreme solutions for owners who want a more engaged boating experience.&nbsp;“There is potential for hydrofoil-assisted, non-flying boats, but there is no substitute for flying,” says Bieker. “Once you feel the acceleration that occurs when that last bit of hull leaves the water it is hard to stomach partial foiling solutions.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/285014/image/large-1afb80631a7886e71900e1011ca9ab77.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/285014">Getting over the humpWhen the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic Yachts</a> 111 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Raven34.0m (111'7&quot;)Baltic Yachts2023">Raven</a> hit the water for sail trials in the summer of 2023, all eyes turned to this sleek, foil-assisted superyacht. As the team gradually edged the yacht towards its performance limits, the yacht started hitting consistent speeds in the high 20-knots range, and the sailing world was abuzz. However, this style of yacht will probably remain an outlier and while great for exhilarating performance on the water, it is not ideal for coastal cruising with the family. The leeward foil is designed to carry up to 60 per cent of the yacht’s displacement at speed, but the engineering that has gone into creating a structure capable of handling the extreme loads has been immense.“The fitting which is bolted to the hull-deck joint of the foil arm is one metre long and made of machined titanium, for example,” says Kenneth Nyfelt, Sales Director at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic Yachts</a>. “The tolerances on all those fittings are incredible fine; you cannot allow any rattling or any vibration from it because then you are dead.”Even with Canova’s DSS, Henry Hawkins believes it will take time for most owners to gain confidence in the technology: “Look at how long it took us to get carbon rigging and canting keels onto boats; they’re still the unknown, and what people have taken from the racing scene is that the foils are always breaking,” he says. “So there’s a hump to get over, but I think there is a realisation that there is something to be offered by foiling technology, and it’s a question of how long it will take to find its way into the mainstream.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/308861/image/large-11b3b0797fa572b289df3d06472924b7.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/308861">Tender trendsSmaller foiling boats and RIBs, whether using full-flight foils or foil-assist solutions, offer plenty of potential as standalone leisure boats, chase boats or tenders, particularly as alternative drive systems come on stream. Among many pioneers in this field is Gordon van Hardenbroek, an industrial designer and co-founder in 2015 of foiling boat company Edorado.“We started with a basic design premise of taking a planing hull, taking out the combustion engine and putting batteries in,” he says. “There weren’t many people doing it at the time, but we found as soon as you start going fast the range plummets. And I don’t believe that battery tech will improve enough to solve that problem. We realised that adding foils – in our case an active system made possible thanks to advances in sensors and computation – could double our range. Finally we realised that market demand was for retractable foils.”In addition to creating their own 8.35-metre 8S model, Edorado is also planning to release a pre-engineering platform that targets the superyacht sector. “The 8S is very much about flying,” he says. “It’s not about getting you from A to B, but rather the goal is the flying itself.”

Are foiling superyachts feasible?

The latest technology has overcome many of the shortfalls of older systems, but are foiling superyachts feasible?

Flight Club: Are foiling superyachts feasible?

In May 2022, SuperYacht Times acquired the Dubai International Superyacht Summit and rebranded it the Gulf Superyacht Summit. It is a very important step for our company as it means we are officially entering the world of superyacht industry conferences, something we have been wanting to do for a long time. The industry’s response to our step has been very positive.&nbsp;We were proud to welcome back the Summit’s existing backers as well as many new sponsors and visitors. As we have a large in-house market intelligence team, we immediately saw a perfect opportunity to let loose our team’s skills on superyacht movements in the Arabian Gulf area, to analyse: are the number of superyachts visiting the region really rising? Where are they coming from and, more importantly, where do their owners come from? And of course the crucial question: how many superyachts could potentially make their way into the Gulf in the future? You can now <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/market-reports/the-gulf-superyacht-summit-2022-report#download-now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">download this report for free</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/250652/image/large-9adad73461d77a9cd6b0dd26edfcf1cc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/250652">Some key findings from the report:<ul><li>The number of superyachts visiting the Arabian Gulf is rising each year</li><li>2021 already saw 104 superyachts over 30 metres visiting the Arabian Gulf</li><li>For 2022, we expect over 130 visits</li><li>Over 80 percent of visiting yachts were owned in the Middle East or Eastern Europe</li><li>We believe potentially up to 850 yachts over 40 metres could visit the Arabian Gulf in the future</li><li>Around 260 superyachts over 30 metres are owned in the countries surrounding the Arabian Gulf</li><li>This amounts to 5 percent of the world fleet over 30 metres</li><li>Owners from the Middle East have on average the largest yachts in the world</li><li>The superyacht refit industry in the Arabian Gulf is currently underserved and has an enormous potential for growth</li><li>We quizzed several market experts about their views on the superyacht market in the Arabian Gulf. Read their feedback in the Gulf Superyacht Market Report 2022.</li></ul> Want to know more?<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/market-reports/the-gulf-superyacht-summit-2022-report#download-now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Download the report now!</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/250653/image/large-d9ef23e5dfa5ae14df317858430f1fa1.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/250653"> <a href="https://superyachttimes.ac-page.com/homepage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SYT iQ bespoke consultancy</a>Would you like to increase your footprint in the Arabian Gulf superyacht market but are lacking the right data? The Intelligence team of <a href="https://sya.superyachttimes.com/companies/superyacht-times" target="_blank">SuperYacht Times</a> performed research specifically for the Gulf Superyacht Market Report 2022. We could do this for your company as well. Interested? Get in touch with our Sales team via <a href="mailto:%20sales@superyachttimes.com" title="">sales@superyachttimes.com</a>

The Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022 report

Last month we hosted The Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022, get our exclusive market report here.

The Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022 market report

On 9 and 10 November 2022 SuperYacht Times successfully hosted the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a>, which was held under the patronage of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a> and with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> as the event partner. The two-day event was held onboard Queen Elizabeth II in Dubai.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249883/image/large-0dc6cf3f1a6daf88019919272e0f4f24.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249883">The <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a> was attended by more than 200 international and national delegates, who enjoyed a two-day event of talks and presentations that pivoted on the topic: how can we attract more superyachts to the Gulf region? <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249875/image/large-280a7056555769f969a84cba0d93a9b4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249875">As SuperYacht Times is a data-driven company the intelligence team has created the in-depth Gulf Superyacht Market Report, which is now available for <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/market-reports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">free download</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249837/image/large-16f871f6fa3cee0ea2f078e963a2660d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249837"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249834/image/large-54a985686e00008997b66a23974cade7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249834">“We’re pleased to see how well the fourth edition of the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a> went, and the positive reception that we’ve received from those that attended,” Merijn de Waard, founder of SuperYacht Times commented. “I’d like to extend our thanks to everyone that participated on and off the stage, as well as to our sponsors for their continued support.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249725/image/large-2e9b57f47871345c7cd28096464bce0e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249725">Adel Abdulwahed Kalantar, Director of Operations &amp; Business Development Dubai Maritime City Authority and&nbsp;Hamza Mustafa, COO of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a>&nbsp;on the Future of the GulfSuperYacht Times developed a strong relationship with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, which was gearing up for the first-ever <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> Championship in Dubai, held two days after the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Summit</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> invited attendees of the Summit for an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ look at the forthcoming event. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249498/image/large-9c38f4725ab0f8880d1b04867c97104f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249498">There was also a dinner held onboard Queen Elizabeth IIon the first day of the event, attended by more than 100 VIP guests. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249892/image/large-44d57a4ad4c951d3e839fc452c259876.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249892"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249853/image/large-5cd5091fd98550cd50b7e1b1036bc7f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249853"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249859/image/large-0b8a971bc69ec5ea0b209301dc61caab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249859">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56299" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022: Final speakers announced for next week's summit (2022-11-02 18:15:00 +0100)">Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022: Final speakers announced for next week's summit</a>“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a> has supported the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a> since it first launched and we are honoured to be a key patron once again,” Hamza Mustafa, Chief Operating Officer of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a>, a DP World company commented. “We have watched the Summit grow to become a strategic platform, gathering industry professionals and local authorities, helping them work together to build a yacht friendly ecosystem. I can’t think of a better place than Mina Rashid, where we are creating a regional yachting hub and a new destination for luxury leisure tourism.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249812/image/large-3093d30865c38e9a216870dc60411cb3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249812">Mohamed Al Zaabi, Owner of the 35m Benetti&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1420" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="DXB34.95m (114'8&quot;)Benetti SpA2003">DXB</a>&nbsp;and CEO of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4686" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Yachts Dubai (Company)">Royal Yachts</a>&nbsp;and Guido Krass, owner of 85m&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6018" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bold85.3m (279'10&quot;)SilverYachts2019">Bold</a>&nbsp;and founder of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/899" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SilverYachts (Company)">SilverYachts</a>&nbsp;Shipyard on the Owners Perspective<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249822/image/large-2a6799ea916dc5dbe1523b8a78dc3073.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249822">Johnny Dodge, CEO of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6391" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="My Ocean Company (Company)">My Ocean</a>&nbsp;speaking on Charter the Way Forward for the Gulf?<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249789/image/large-cc3377978ebccd3d0255ffbb335b6797.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249789">Jorrit Pillar, Sales Manager of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>&nbsp;and Paris Baloumis, Group Marketing Director of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/56365" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="2022 Gulf Superyacht Summit: Peter Lürssen’s keynote interview with Merijn de Waard (2022-11-11 10:00:00 +0100)">2022 Gulf Superyacht Summit: Peter Lürssen’s keynote interview with Merijn de Waard</a>“It was empowering to see so many companies and industry experts come together to champion the Gulf as a superyacht destination,” Merijn de Waard concluded. “It’s a growing region and one that we as an industry need to push together to promote. The enthusiasm and passion displayed at the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">2022 Gulf Superyacht Summit</a> clearly demonstrated this desire. There’s still progress to be made, but we’re moving in the right direction and the Gulf is undoubtedly a region to watch.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249718/image/large-a8b21dfa661bf4d00d622995efebdb71.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249718">Merijn de Waard, founder and director of SuperYacht Times delivers the opening talk Analysing the Gulf Superyacht MarketThe fifth edition of the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a>, and the second hosted by SuperYacht Times will return in 2023.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240975/image/large-1dd1deadc2235db72ef7c675ba4762cc.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240975"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240976/image/large-fd2d41a0239fa277712a77d8dfcfd133.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240976">

 2022 Gulf SuperYacht Summit 

On 9 and 10 November 2022 SuperYacht Times successfully hosted the Gulf Superyacht Summit.  

2022 Gulf SuperYacht Summit confirms the “Gulf is a region to watch”

This article was written and first published by Thomas Tison Yacht Design and Engineering. The story of the America’s Cup is a battle against time. Secrecy, technical innovation, winning the &nbsp;Cup is a historical success that can change the destiny of the teams competing. &nbsp;In the last weeks, the America’s Cup teams have put in the water their LEQ12, a 12-metre test boat smaller than the AC75 that will compete for the Auld Mug in Barcelona. &nbsp;After one year of work, the teams will gather the first data from the field, collecting important feedback on the design of the boat and the sailors will be able to train and gain confidence. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249057/image/large-6649aecda3c84c89813047d4e4e703da.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249057">In his thirties, yacht designer Thomas Tison is one of the few in his generation to have influenced the transition from heavy monohulls to today’s flying boats. &nbsp;Mascalzone Latino, Team Origin, Artemis Racing and now INEOS Britannia Team: Thomas Tison is at his fourth America's Cup participation, he is responsible for imagining, simulating and designing how the lightweight, carbon fibre boats are built and turning the team’s ideas into reality.The evolution of the America's Cup: Lighter and faster boatsAs the goal is to increase foiling time, try to fly as much as possible and avoid touchdowns, the aerodynamic aspect of the boat is becoming more and more crucial. For this reason, the boats are running very close to the water, have two cockpits and, between them, an air tunnel.How will the America's Cup boat evolve now that, for the first time in the competition, some &nbsp;F1 teams are involved?"America’s Cup Teams and F1 teams work in a very similar manner. Aerodynamic subjects are important for F1 cars as they attempt to generate downforce. On our side we are aiming to reduce the part of the airflow slowing us down. It is different but the methods are the same. It will be interesting to see how this will be translated into the test yachts, how the cockpit design, and the mainsail tunnel will be modified. There is a strong impact on the structure and from my side the aim is to bring aerodynamic designers as much freedom wherever we can while saving weight and designing a reliable platform that meets the team’s requirements."Thomas began developing structure optimisation programs using Artificial Intelligence at University 10 years ago. If at that time Artificial Intelligence was a new term, it is now widely used. Computational power has increased, methods have evolved, and tasks that once took several days can now be completed in a matter of hours. This can lead to a convergence of results, as teams use the same optimisation programs, that in turn makes human creativity even more important.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When looking at the boats launched, they may all look similar to the untrained eye, as most teams use the same optimisation programs and can arrive at a similar conclusion. The competitive edge is outside of what computers study, at the interface between different fields of science, where there is uncertainty. This inspires us to think ahead of the curve and search for &nbsp;solutions where some people may stop looking.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249059/image/large-a0cdb83b9716a64d6ee7004e27b70bb8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249059">America’s Cup: a laboratory for strong ideasAmerica’s Cup teams call on Thomas Tison expertise to engineer the way the boats are built. They rely on his methodical approach and multidisciplinary skills, which he has developed through both the experience in the America’s cup and in developing his own projects.Knowledge of carbon fibre, loads, safety critical, design rules and a natural attitude to push the boundaries. Thomas confirms: "America's Cup projects provide the engineers with the budget and resources to study very specific areas in depth. We can investigate stress distributions when the loads change rapidly, like under flight conditions or during maneuvers, and experiment with new materials. The racing yachts are the fastest and most complex in the world and the engineering challenge is very exciting”In-depth specific knowledge, complemented with a fresh approach. Thomas highlighted the importance of experimenting and testing strong ideas, also in other classes, &nbsp;as he did when designing a mini 6.50 with a gauge of 7.5m. "We should not limit testing to the America’s Cup boats. Experimenting with new ideas must be a &nbsp;habit for a designer, and so we did when designing the 650 PRO. The Mini has always been an &nbsp;experimental laboratory, pushing people to think outside the box."A winning team must be flexible enough in order to be able to innovate and adapt quickly, especially in a field where nobody can predict where the next big idea will come from. &nbsp;For example, the introduction of foils on the AC72 was the result of an idea, at the time extremely innovative, conceived by a small group of people in New Zealand. Then this small spark spreads, and we now see foiling multihulls and monohulls also outside of the America's Cup context.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249058/image/large-5bc844017c23431d3e3af05431216fea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249058">The heritage and the elegance of the Cup“As an engineer my role is to make things happen, and I feel in my natural environment within the &nbsp;America’s Cup, where there is a strong emphasis on the quest for performance. The collaboration &nbsp;with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team stimulates all the INEOS team members to push the &nbsp;boundaries even further.” &nbsp;In addition to the engineering challenge, Thomas Tison underlined the importance of the heritage of the America’s Cup, admitting that what first attracted him to joining the cup were the beauty of the boats, the yachting spirit, and the elegance of the J class. Many of the pages describing the competition's history were written in the United Kingdom, a country with which Thomas has a special relationship.&nbsp;“When I arrived to study in the UK I went straight to the Isle of Wight and looked for the pictures of &nbsp;Beken of Cowes. This is clearly a part of how I was raised, so it is more than satisfying to contribute to the success of the Ineos Britannia Team”.The America’s cup we see now, is this the future of sailing?“The America’s Cup is constantly evolving to respond to the times and it has already impacted marine transportation, on the water activities with electric foiling boards and dinghy sailing. One is yet to see whether it will impact larger sailing yachts. This is fascinating, this is something I want to engage further with.”The rising popularity of events like the America's Cup and the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> is bringing sailing to the attention of an increasing number of people. Cheering for their country or favourite teams, the public learned the basic terms and fundamentals of a discipline that used to be seen as very elitist, and began dreaming of sailing. &nbsp;Certainly having formed partnerships with well-known F1 teams is giving the discipline additional visibility. But there’s more: the desire for the connection with nature and an interest in active sports, and these factors can motivate people to begin sailing.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/249056/image/large-0fa2864faa20de6e10b2d98596953c4b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/249056">How will the pinnacle of yacht racing evolve?“Of course I will always push to design faster and faster boats but we must also resonate with society, bring new progressive ideas, entertain the public, motivate them to discover the sea and enjoy the connection with nature. In 50 years' time, I would like to see an America’s cup Challenger series with 15 boats, all sailing really fast, perhaps even faster than today. If it were up to me the boats would be 150ft or so, a very tall rig and for sure accounting for the environment. I think this is what America’s Cup yachts can become”

INEOS Britannia's Thomas Tison on the America's Cup

Yacht designer Thomas Tison has been influential in the transition from heavy monohulls to today’s flying boats in the America's Cup.

America's Cup: INEOS Britannia's Thomas Tison on the evolution of the Cup and the future of sailing

Over the last five years the governments of the Arabian Gulf have invested millions into the yachting infrastructure of the region, building world class marinas, yacht clubs, as well as crew and refit facilities. As one of the up and coming destinations in the yachting industry we have focused a spotlight on the region, speaking with some of its top experts. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248524/image/large-e855236d962c44701efc7735dc1d8079.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248524">Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director of Developments and Investments, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism shares his experience of the industry in Dubai, while Oliver Rees, General Manager of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6557" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jeddah Yacht Club Marina (Company)">Jeddah Yacht Club &amp; Marina</a> in Saudi Arabia, gives the perspective of the northern Gulf. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248523/image/large-76489a399bc2c4178220f56970280d8e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248523">Captain Steve Corbett has spent four decades in the yachting industry and founded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6806" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="JLS Yachts (Company)">JLS Yachts</a> and Superyacht Middle East and brings a wealth of knowledge on the region to this panel. Finally, Grant Holmes, Global Sector Head at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6816" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Inchcape Shipping Services (Company)">Inchcape Shipping Services</a>, shares insight from the commercial maritime industry which already enjoys a huge amount of success in the region.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/209632/image/large-d76180302c523fc24754864f20a23eed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/209632">The Arabian Gulf is a burgeoning region for the yachting industry, can you tell us a little about how it has evolved over the last decade?Captain Steve Corbett: Historically there has been an acute shortage of large marina berths and a maritime system based around old “merchant marine” rules and regulations, but <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6806" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="JLS Yachts (Company)">JLS Yachts</a> / Superyacht Middle East has worked tirelessly with Government departments especially <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6865" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai Tourism (Company)">Dubai Tourism</a> and the DMCA (Dubai Maritime City Authority) to recognise the input that “Foreign Flagged” yachts have on a destination.Dubai answered the call and developed marinas such as the new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6804" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai Harbour Marina (Company)">Dubai Harbour Marina</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mina Rashid Marina (Company)">Mina Rashid Marina</a>. Dubai also eased and modified the rules of engagement for yachting entering UAE waters with new policies like 6-month renewable cruising permits and 6-months multi-entry (all Nationalities) crew visas. We have also successfully negotiated an easing of tax implications for yachts being shipped to Dubai on Mother Vessels and being cleared with no tax implications on a 6-month entry basis.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248522/image/large-cbe9d5c631b38746744edd27f82b5437.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248522">Yousuf Lootah: Dubai has made rapid progress to emerge as a leading multi-faceted global hub for the sector. Over the last 10 years, the city has continued to develop its state-of-the-art yachting and cruising amenities, offerings and facilities to create a nautical ecosystem and welcome yachting enthusiasts from across the world.&nbsp;The launch of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6804" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai Harbour Marina (Company)">Dubai Harbour</a> has further enhanced Dubai’s position as a leading yachting and cruising hub and has also been instrumental in providing yachts and their owners an additional platform for berths and docking. Along with several other marinas across the emirate including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mina Rashid Marina (Company)">Mina Rashid</a>, Dubai is now home to over 15 marinas with more than 3,000 berths. Today, with its world-class infrastructure, picturesque coastline, simplified access procedures, open anchorage areas, luxury marinas, Dubai has become a global yacht tourism destination.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248504/image/large-78e2679ac0f7613fc6d94ed49f071eb3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248504">Oliver Rees: Parts of the Middle East have worked a lot on tourism to appeal to the wider world. The region has an attractive climate 9 months of the year and a lovely coastline making it an alternative destination for winter cruising. Places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi have invested in infrastructure to accommodate yachting in general while working on the bigger picture of attracting the international yachting community.&nbsp;Grant Holmes: The evolution of the Arabian Gulf region occurred due to the high number of Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) individuals from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Muscat interested in purchasing their own yachts, which in turn generated the need for marinas with supporting services. As the number of marinas and services grew to cater for yachts, the region started to flourish for locally flagged yachts. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/212919/image/large-253acb3eca3f00dd615751d06eedd514.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/212919">What has inspired the movement toward yachting in the region?Captain Steve Corbett: Superyachts are getting bigger and owners are cruising further and making the commitment to cross the Suez Canal. Once through the Canal services are limited but with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6806" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="JLS Yachts (Company)">JLS Yachts / Superyacht Middle East</a>™ opening its new office in Jeddah in November 2022 – yachts are assured to receive a good service when they enter the region. Features like the Saudi / Bahrain / Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Dubai Expo, Qatar World Cup, Dubai <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, Gulf Superyacht Summit and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1709" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai International Boat Show (Company)">Dubai Boat Show</a> are all attractions that enhance visits to our shores.Yousuf Lootah: Dubai’s all year round warm climate and longstanding maritime affiliation, which has been built upon year on year, has been the base for the city’s yachting industry. The marinas and facilities have attracted global yachting tourists and enthusiasts. The continuing expansion of this sector has significant benefits for Dubai as a superyacht capital and further consolidates Dubai’s status as a gateway to the region. This is aligned with the commitment of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the most sought-after destination and an attractive city to live in and work. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248510/image/large-78cb5d59072f3c5bff639ae03156a375.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248510">Oliver Rees: The region has so much to offer for yachting and it’s realising its potential. A lot of the red tape has now been removed to make the process easier for some parts, which helps captains navigate with better agents to help with the process of coming into these countries. Captains also want other options after the Mediterranean season with different itineraries to explore and this region can offer that.Grant Holmes: The inspiration in reality came from a strong demand and desire of local UHNW Arabs to purchase new-build yachts of all descriptions in their own country within the Arabian Gulf region. Many of them have enjoyed yachting in the Mediterranean and Caribbean and now they want to enjoy that experience at home. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/243121/image/large-b88a5917808731bb25ba5ec8cf9aad34.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/243121">Why do you think it has so much potential for superyacht owners and crew?Captain Steve Corbett: The Indian Ocean is the gateway to the Far East and also the Arabian Sea up to and including the Arabian Gulf. Dubai and UAE are great places for rest and relaxation for the crew with good connections for a crew change, and very good for yacht repair, excellent marinas and moorage options and a great provisioning stop. It offers a great last stop before proceeding onto the Maldives and then Malaysia, Hongkong, Singapore, etc.Yousuf Lootah: Dubai is particularly attractive as a hub for superyacht owners and its guests, with its world-class facilities and sophisticated infrastructure, simplified access procedures, open anchorage areas, luxury marinas and diverse sea and land-based experiences, and plethora of fine-dining restaurants and tourism attractions, all within easy access of the marinas.While for captains and crew, the city offers a consolidated multicultural environment, the presence of international schools for families, a central hub for flight connections globally, and a long season with beautiful weather. Combined with its ideal geographical location midway between the East and the West which makes its airline connectivity one of the most compelling advantages that Dubai has.&nbsp;Grant Holmes: The city destinations of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat and Manama offer a plethora of formidable world best attractions, leisure and tourism facilities, services and experiences. Coupled with idyllic and deserted islands, diving opportunities, desert orientated adventures and the culture of Arabian Hospitality make it a desirable and unique region for yachting. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/242122/image/large-baedb6550349b9c76502cbb3067cb694.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/242122">What can we expect in the coming years in terms of development?Captain Steve Corbett: More marinas with bigger berths – better and improved services for crew, as well as new superyacht service areas in Dubai. Expansion development in Oman and Qatar, easing of rules and regulations in yacht entry/exit operations and an expansion on the Saudi West Coast with many marinas and entertainment plans and services – yacht repair facilities and associations with Egypt, Israel and Jordan for charter options.Yousuf Lootah: Over the coming years, we will see a number of exciting developments in Dubai’s yachting industry which include state-of-the-art refit and shipyard maintenance, professional yachting and maritime academies for future crew, and qualified training centres for staff, in addition to upgrades to marinas. Dubai is also planning to host more luxury and yachting related events, and expects more entrepreneurs and owners of superyachts to open their offices in the city. Additionally, yacht guests can expect more streamlined docking and regulation processes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248502/image/large-3dd827d1fe1013aa08fa7589befaba2b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248502">Oliver Rees: Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in infrastructure to attract yachting to the region with more marinas, yacht clubs, beach clubs, hotels, shipyard facilities and opening previously private areas to yachting tourism. This will take time, but the first steps have been made with the addition of Jeddah Yacht Club providing superyacht facilities and an ideal place to stop for fuel on route to the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;Grant Holmes: Greater connectivity to the nearby Yachting regions encompassing the West of India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion and all Vanilla Islands, as well as the Red Sea. Such connectivity would allow Yachts to operate in the wider region without crossing the Suez Canal on a year-round basis. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/232076/image/large-6c990d407e0719deea43d5c686019210.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/232076">What challenges are yet to be overcome for yachting in the region?Captain Steve Corbett: There are still many challenges in the marine sector around superyacht and pleasure yacht operations – especially in the developing areas of Oman / Saudi / Qatar and even Maldives to a degree. We need these countries to work together to have a streamlined cohesive operation and complete understanding of this extremely valuable market. Better service, more moorage options, visa, and cruising permits will all be important. One of the biggest obstacles at present is the ability to charter and service those products.&nbsp;Oliver Rees: There is a hunger here, and a want to facilitate, but a lot of the legislation needs to be updated to make international yachting clearance smoother. There are good steps in the right direction with new extended cruising permits introduced within regions to make long stays easy. With the help of yachting agents, educating governments and ministries, we are slowly making headway at improvements to give visiting yachts a more seamless experience.&nbsp;Grant Holmes: Routing and inter-connectivity between all key destinations remains a challenge. Certain regulations, immigration and customs procedures and administration, including clearances, need to be simplified, but a lot of progress is already being made in these areas. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/209631/image/large-062082179b2be4de100888c734fb22db.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/209631">What do you think is the most valuable thing the region has to offer?Captain Steve Corbett: Location! Plenty of sunshine, cheaper fuel, beautiful beaches and many untapped and unexplored areas of warm water, idyllic Islands. It is a great place to make your base and then explore from there. Oman has a spectacular coastline with Khors and hidden anchorages that are spectacular. The UAE has an incredible activities calendar with some of the biggest events and production in the world.&nbsp;Yousuf Lootah: Apart from the range of world-class infrastructure and facilities, Dubai’s maritime tourism offering is spread across the landscape and even touches a part of the city’s cultural and social fabric. As a cosmopolitan destination that is home to over 200 different nationalities, Dubai also offers visitors an outstanding quality of life and a distinctive lifestyle experience . As the gastronomy capital of the region, Dubai has an array of homegrown and international restaurants, offering a plethora of culinary experiences catering to all appetites, cultures and budgets.Grant Holmes: To Sail between waters of the most modern, luxurious and attractive cities on the planet with world class infrastructure that act as gateways to a wide spectrum of world best attractions as well as nature, aqua and adventure orientated experiences.&nbsp;This article was originally published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-times-issue-42" target="_blank">Issue 42 of SuperYacht Times newspaper.</a>&nbsp;To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Expert Insight on the Arabian Gulf 

SYT speaks to Yousaf Lootah, Oliver Rees, Captain Steve Corbett and Grant Holmes about the Arabian Gulf yachting industry.

Expert Insight: Arabian Gulf 

Over the last few months we have been taking a deep-dive look at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, the international sailing championship that is quickly changing the face of the sport. This weekend, on 12-13th November, the seventh event of Season 3 of the championship is due to kick off at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a>. The event will be the first to take place in the UAE and the team has created a special superyacht programme to welcome yacht owners to the event. We took a closer look at the upcoming Adrenaline Yacht Program to give you the best overview of what the race at Marina Rashid will have to offer. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248323/image/large-a23318ea4b3aa84f28174634c5c40fb2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248323">Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a>Dubai may well be known for world class restaurants, five star hotels, its iconic glittering skyline and desert adventures, but in recent years the city has developed an international reputation for sporting activities. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> is the latest iteration of championships to arrive in the sandy city, and the athletes will be making the most of the impressively blue waters, miles long waterfront and beautiful weather.&nbsp;Already a melting pot for different cultures and nationalities, each of the nine teams is guaranteed to have a solid following on the dockside, which will only add to the excitement. Visiting guests are offered a selection of options, from Waterfront Platinum passes with drinks and dining, to on water options that put you in the heart of the action. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244216/image/large-4a8f653b2f43c188dffea8b3a2aa61a1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244216"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>&nbsp;Adrenaline Yacht ProgramNo one has a better opportunity for on-water fun than the superyachts. Every edition of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has welcomed superyachts onto the field to spectate as the F50s fly across the water. Members of the Adrenaline Yacht Program are guaranteed to have preferred access to the very best viewing spot for the championship, situated on the race course at the first high speed reaching leg, anchored superyachts will have the best possible view of all the action from less than 50 metres away.&nbsp;All spectator vessels have direct access to the live race commentary over VHF, which means that every second of the race can be enjoyed onboard. The members will also have exclusive access to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> Technical Base, with the unique opportunity to meet some of the athletes and go behind the scenes in the ‘pit lane garages’ where the wing-sailed F50s can be viewed up close. In addition to this unique opportunity, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> hosts a number of exclusive events during the championship, including a post-race meet with the winning team and a number of official parties. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247295/image/large-5d0f37bf1ecf206b3a1a630a73fe07dc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247295">In a recent interview with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, Russell Coutts – founder of the championship and internationally renowned sailor – shared his thoughts on the relationship between sailing and superyachting. “We have always aimed to attract a community of boating, because yachting should be complementary on all levels and we really believe that superyacht owners and their crew are a major asset for sail racing and in turn, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>.” For this reason the championship has worked hard to create an exciting and unique programme for yacht owners to ensure that they return with their superyachts, season after season.Julien Di Biase, Chief Operating Officer of S<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">ailGP</a> said “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>’s Adrenaline Yacht program has already proven extremely popular and offers members an unrivalled experience, from being moored right on the boundary of the racecourse, to exclusive events with our top athletes and a personalised tour of our technical facilities. There’s truly no finer way to experience a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> event weekend.”&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244219/image/large-66c188bb310782ac6ddf1c9e0412fcc6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244219">Up NextThere are 11 events for season 3 and the final four editions guarantee some serious excitement on the water, taking place in some of the most awesome locations from the entire season. Heading east, after Dubai will come Singapore from 14-15th January, then onto Sydney on the 18th and 19th of February for Event 9, then on the 18th and 19th of March, Christchurch, New Zealand for Event 10 before finishing the season with the Grand Final in San Francisco in May.&nbsp;You can get tickets for any of the SailGP events at <a href="https://sailgp.com/races/season-3/dubai-sail-grand-prix/overview/" target="_blank">SailGP.com</a>. And if you can’t make it down, find out how to watch where you are at <a href="http://sailgp.com/Watch" target="_blank">SailGP.com/Watch</a>. Finally for more information on our Adrenaline Yacht program, email l.esteve@bwayachting.com. &nbsp;

SailGP Dubai 2022 programme

SailGP has been welcomed to Dubai for the first time under the patronage of P&O Marinas.

Dubai Sail Grand Prix: SailGP welcomed to Dubai for the first time 

When it comes to world-class sailors, few are as internationally renowned as New Zealand’s Russell Coutts. Claiming the gold at the LA Olympics in 1984, helming his country’s team to victory at the America’s Cup (AC) in 1995, and again in 2000, and subsequently successfully racing with the AC Swiss and then US teams, he’s truly one of the sport’s true figureheads. So when Coutts put his name and his reputation behind a new name in the game; <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, it was destined to be a victory on all fronts. In the four years since it was founded however, the competition has far outweighed its expectations, becoming one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the world with the view to build a platform not dissimilar to that of the Formula 1.&nbsp;SuperYacht Times&nbsp;caught up with Russell to get an insight into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, which is now in the midst of its third season, and to understand the origin of the championship which has taken the sailing world by storm.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247296/image/large-3fae76dcf76e37db318bc23f7679a2c5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247296">What was the origin concept for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, how did the idea begin?Sailing has never had an annual roster of events, a championship that both the public could engage with, but also that &nbsp;international athletes could compete in that was professionally televised and that could become a marketing platform for the sport. Sailing has always deserved a broader audience, it’s an engaging sport and at the very highest level it's fast paced, exciting and brilliant to watch – demonstrating this to a global audience, building a following and creating a platform – that is what we set out to do.&nbsp;One of the most important original tenets of the competition was to create a level playing field for all international teams. We chose the F50s because they are fast, technologically advanced and most importantly, challenging to race, demanding the very best from the athletes. All of the boats are identical, we build them ourselves and amend the technology each season with the latest innovations – the top speed we’ve recorded is 99.94 kilometres an hour, I expect to top 110 kmph within the next season! <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247300/image/large-bc80d099e547b9f48a4e61f0dbc5d655.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247300">What was the first event like and how has it changed since its conception?We believe that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has developed into the most exciting race on the water, with highly competitive international teams racing in iconic venues all over the world. Since the first season <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has grown from five events to 11 this year, and we are in the process of finalising season four which looks like it will be around 14-15 events.&nbsp;Aside from the events themselves, we are gaining more teams each year and are currently producing two more F50s. It's exciting how far the championship has progressed in a relatively short period of time and each one of those teams brings a unique following with them. The viewership of the races has more than doubled since season one and we’ve smashed our targets for season three already, which really demonstrates that there is a thirst for this sport. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247301/image/large-beea6c531e5f4b8a2b7ffdbd60674df3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247301">Was sustainability and inclusivity always a priority for the program?One of the best things about our sport is that we are out in nature, in beautiful places, utilising the environment to our advantage to power our high performance race boats. We are powered by nature so it would be wrong not to use our platform and our sport as a megaphone to promote sustainability and caring for the environment. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has a focus on accelerating the transition to renewable and clean energies and that focus has been a huge focus of the organisation and everyone within it from the very beginning.&nbsp;When it comes to inclusivity, we’ve really been tackling this on multiple fronts. Our Inspire youth sailing program has already seen more than 10,000 young people pass through it and we have created careers within <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> for around 16 people through our <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> Inspire Careers program. We have also created the Women’s Pathway, the first of its kind in our sport which is obviously a very male dominated one, both historically and still today. Every <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> team has to have a female team member in order to compete. We all know it's just a start – my ambition is to have a female driver winning <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> in the future and we won't rest until we have true equality.At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, inclusivity isn’t just about the people on the water, it's the young people in schools being given new opportunities, its building a platform for athletes to compete, its creating jobs, involving minorities but also its getting more people involved in the sport as spectators. It's really a multifaceted approach and very much at the core of our championship. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247298/image/large-35815a68d5166ce66a9dffe65cd24f41.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247298">How is&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>&nbsp;set apart from other international competitions such as the America’s Cup?I think that the audience for the America’s Cup is the same as that of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> and in my opinion the two properties are really interconnected, benefitting one another. Sailing has always lacked consistency and publicity, two of the major factors when it comes to audience – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has both. The irregularity of the AC has always made it hard to gain long term sponsorships, and every season it's an effort to find broadcasters that are willing to show the event on TV – which is no reflection on how exciting the championship itself is.&nbsp;The continuity of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, competitions almost every month this year, means that broadcasters have a guaranteed audience and sponsors have a reliable platform. In fact we have signed 10 year contracts with broadcasters and sponsors, something I have never heard of before in sailing. Many of the event locations have also requested to sign contracts for 4 years or even longer, because they can see the value the platform brings to the destination and its tourism industry. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247294/image/large-90afe4b28ceefc779d17274272ef09bb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247294">How do you aim to bring the sailing and superyacht sectors together through SailGP?We really want to attract a community of boating, both sailing and motor. Hopefully owners come along and enjoy our events and look forward to returning every year. We’ve worked hard to offer a proper superyacht program, called the Adrenaline Yacht Program, and members get a prime spectator experience, moored on the boundary of the field, with an opportunity to tour the technical facilities. We always have at least one exclusive owners event, where top athletes join the owners and share their own unique insights into racing these amazing yachts. The program has been met really warmly already and we are working to make it better and more exclusive every season.&nbsp;Yachting should be complementary, on all levels and we really believe that superyacht owners and their crew are a major asset for sail racing and in turn, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244222/image/large-37fc16af0fa90451c81cca8032fdd749.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244222">Last but not least, how can our readers engage with SailGP, both on the ground and online?As of this season we are broadcasting to 189 different territories and we are able to simultaneously broadcast on YouTube in many different countries as well. Then when it comes to watching the event in person with such a broad range of locations all over the world, there are now many opportunities for spectators to attend the championships. Each year we are looking to expand the breadth of the event, so even if there isn’t a local event, there will be a way to access it online or on television.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/247299/image/large-7fdedaae805eeb4c4345dd0b29435a54.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/247299">The next edition of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> is in only a few weeks in Dubai at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&amp;O Marinas on 12-13 November, &nbsp;you can still get tickets at <a href="https://sailgp.com/races/season-3/dubai-sail-grand-prix/overview/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SailGP.com/Dubai</a>. And if you can’t make it down, find out how to watch where you are at <a href="http://SailGP.com/Watch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SailGP.com/Watch</a>. Finally for more information on our Adrenaline Yacht program, email l.esteve@bwayachting.com. &nbsp;

Interview with Russell Coutts of SailGP

SailGP interview behind the scenes with Russell Coutts.

Behind the scenes of SailGP with international sailing champion  Russell Coutts

With just under a month until the 2022 edition of the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a>, now is the time to purchase the last remaining <a href="https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/84531/gulf-superyacht-summit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">early bird tickets</a> for the two-day event. This year’s summit will be held on the 9 and 10 November in Dubai onboard the Queen Elizabeth 2, under the patronage of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/235859/image/large-e7d2935d870c7b3871df2e6fb3326f97.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/235859">Some of the keynote speakers have already been announced with Peter Lürssen, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen Yachts</a> declared as the honoured keynote interviewee for the event. Peter Lürssen is the fourth-generation shipyard owner of the legendary German shipyard, which has built a large proportion of some of the world’s most exclusive yachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/111454/image/large-4652e1b13e8e64a1896dba8ba7fee8a7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/111454">Some of the other speakers present at the event will be Abeer AlShaali, Managing Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/955" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Craft (Company)">Gulf Craft</a> and Hamza Mustafa, Chief Operating Officer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6707" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="P & O Marinas (Company)">P&amp;O Marinas</a> who will both be discussing the future of the Gulf and the Red Sea. They will be followed by Francis Lapp, Founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunreef Yachts (Company)">Sunreef Yachts</a> and Paolo Casani, CEO of <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/camper-nicholsons-international" target="_blank">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> who will be speaking about investing in the UAE.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/235857/image/large-88e29397c2538e1d013a6318cf3d9448.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/235857">Also speaking about the Gulf will be Oliver Blanchet, Head of Private Jet and Yacht Finance at BNP Paribas who will be speaking about the challenges of finance and insurance in the Gulf; and Jonny Dodge, Founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6391" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="My Ocean Company (Company)">My Ocean Company</a>, alongside Amit Patel, Co-Founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6685" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Xclusive Yachts (Company)">Xclusive Yachts</a> who will be discussing if chartering is the way forward for the Gulf.Attendees at the event will also hear from Jamie Edmiston, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a>, Engel Jan de Boer of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyd's Register (Company)">Lloyds Ship Register</a> and Daniel Nerhagen, Yacht Director and Partner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/809" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tillberg Design of Sweden (Company)">Tillberg Design of Sweden</a> and Paolo Bertetti, Vice President Technical R&amp;D at <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/companies/sanlorenzo" target="_blank">Sanlorenzo</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/226571/image/large-ddf9fe0d36527b0341f3867d59288b9f.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/226571">The jam-packed programme of events will take place proceeding the first ever <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> Championship with the summit seeking to inform, assist and advise yachting clients and related interested parties, with the goal to develop the Gulf as a superyacht winter destination.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231343/image/large-88deca5406ba7449cb087bd5c3f900fd.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231343">You can find the full schedule and more information on the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit</a> website: <a href="https://www.gulfsuperyachtsummit.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">www.gulfsuperyachtsummit.com</a><a href="https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/84531/gulf-superyacht-summit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Early bird tickets</a> for the <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gulf Superyacht Summit - 2022">Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022</a> are selling fast with only a few remaining. Don’t miss out, <a href="https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/84531/gulf-superyacht-summit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">buy your tickets today</a>.&nbsp; <a href="https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/84531/gulf-superyacht-summit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/245092/image/large-9f707e97913b0226d95d5bbc832b1574.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/245092"></a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240975/image/large-1dd1deadc2235db72ef7c675ba4762cc.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240975"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/240976/image/large-ab9eab59515428cba80155dae4f1faf9.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/240976">

Last few Early Bird tickets remaining for the Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022

Now is the last chance to purchase the remaining early bird tickets for the Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022 held in Dubai.

Last chance to purchase Early Bird tickets for the Gulf Superyacht Summit 2022

Established in 2018, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has quickly become the highlight of the annual international sailing calendar. The championship sees the best athletes from nine countries competing against one another on high-speed, high intensity F50 hydrofoiling catamarans. The 2022-2023 season is set to see 11 events across the world, having begun in Bermuda this past May and ending in San Francisco in May 2023. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244219/image/large-66c188bb310782ac6ddf1c9e0412fcc6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244219">The league has been established to nurture international sailors and their sport, growing their fan base and building a much needed passion for the sport worldwide. By achieving this, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> has created a pathway for young sailors to enter international competitions, but it has also had an extremely positive impact on cities where the races take place. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> leads by example, building its platform and its events in a sustainable way, looking to preserve the local environment and utilise clean energy solutions.&nbsp;For this third season, the F50s have been upgraded for better handling under foil, allowing for higher speeds and lower drag and further improving the performance and stability of the formidable yachts. Continuous revisions of the technology is key to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>s success and new technologies play an important role in the championship both on land and sea. This season it has partnered with NEAR to create a community engagement tool in sports which develops applications for fan engagement, NFTs, gaming and more, meaning that even if you're not there to watch the race, you can still actively participate in the events.&nbsp;Season 3 is welcoming many famous athletes back to the league, including Australia driver Tom Slingsby, Sir Ben Ainslie of Great Britain, Jimmy Spithill of the United States and Peter Burling of New Zealand. The season has also welcomed two new teams, those of Canada and Switzerland, expanding the global foothold of the championship yet further. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244216/image/large-4a8f653b2f43c188dffea8b3a2aa61a1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244216">What is an F50 catamaran?Developed specifically for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>, the F50 wingsailed catamaran is the culmination of 10 years of development in high performance foiling multihulls. It was designed to create a standard, cutting-edge performance yacht, equalising the competition meaning that victor truly relies on the skill of the athletes themselves.&nbsp;Building on the America’s Cup catamarans from the 2017 edition, the yachts are 15-metres in length, with an 8.8-metre beam, 24-metre sail, and a weight of 2.4 tonnes. Manned by a crew of six, the catamarans have an estimated top speed of more than 52 knots, with team France setting a new speed record in Saint-Tropez this September of 99.94 km/h.&nbsp;The yachts are powered by a modular wingsail, flying above water on hydrofoils and marking a true evolution in the design and construction of sailing yachts. The F50 was awarded the World Sailing’s 2019 Boat of the Year to mark its place at the very top of its game. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244222/image/large-37fc16af0fa90451c81cca8032fdd749.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244222">Education and inclusivityKey to the ethos of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> is the nurturing of the future generation of athletes, and as such the company has established an extensive outreach programme, called Inspire. The Inspire Racing X WasZP and Inspire Racing X RS Sailing programmes offer young sailors the opportunity to develop their skills aboard foiling yachts, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity that fosters talent, no matter the gender, race or socioeconomic background of the athlete.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> also offers young sailors the chance to work alongside the international teams during the racing season. Here they gain training, career advice and help to support the shore operations of the teams, providing them with unprecedented opportunities and access.&nbsp;When it comes to inclusivity in the championship itself, unlike many other international circuits, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> teams must include a female athlete in order to compete. Not only does this help to promote women sailors, it also helps to inspire other young women to enter a world which has historically been very male dominated. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244218/image/large-0ea906739026038446bd7cdfc7330009.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244218">Impact LeagueIntroduced during Season 2, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a> Impact League initiative has been established to accelerate the transition to clean energy in the world of sailing. The league tracks the actions teams make to reduce their overall carbon footprint and promotes a public leaderboard, to which the score of each team during the championship is added. This means that positive changes can directly impact the position of the team on the leaderboard per season, giving teams a firm motivation for making sustainable change.&nbsp;The criteria of the Impact League includes sustainability, innovation, waste and single-use plastic, travel and accommodation, food, diversity and inclusion and using your voice for change. The championship is the first of its kind in the world to create a league that directly encourages teams to make positive change in order to accrue additional points. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/244223/image/large-7a8eb328814f76cc8e6b1190dfe3f512.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/244223">Where can you see&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6878" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailGP (Company)">SailGP</a>?While season 3 is already well underway, the 2022-2023 calendar is still bustling with events;&nbsp;- 06 | Cadiz | 24-25 Sep 2022&nbsp;- 07 | Dubai | 12-13 Nov 2022- 08 | Singapore | 14-15 Jan 2023- 09 | Sydney | 18-19 Feb 2023&nbsp;- 10 | Christchurch (NZ) | 18-19 Mar 2023- 11 | San Francisco | 6-7 May 2023

SailGP's superyacht programme 2022-2023

SailGP is making the sailing industry more accessible and inclusive.