production foiling sailboat

Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time.

• Event calendar
• Annapolis Sailboat Show
• Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
• Miami International Boat Show
• Oceanis 30.1
• Oceanis 34.1
• Oceanis 37.1
• Oceanis 40.1
• Oceanis 46.1
• Oceanis 51.1
• Oceanis Yacht 54
• Oceanis Yacht 60
• FIGARO BENETEAU 3
• Heritage Sailing Yacht
• Flyer 7 SUNdeck
• Flyer 7 SPACEdeck
• Flyer 8 SUNdeck
• Flyer 8 SPACEdeck
• Flyer 9 SUNdeck
• Flyer 9 SPACEdeck
• Antares 7 Fishing
• Antares 8 Fishing
• ANTARES 11 FLY
• Gran Turismo 32
• Gran Turismo 36
• Gran Turismo 41
• Gran Turismo 45
• Swift Trawler 35
• Swift trawler 41 Sedan
• Swift trawler 41 Fly
• Swift Trawler 48
• Swift Trawler 54
• Grand Trawler 62
• Heritage Powerboats
• Future Owners
• A REMARKABLE ANNIVERSARY
• Our History
• Our Architects and Designers
• Our philosophy
• Our Innovations
• Your way to ownership
• Tests and Awards

For over 140 years, we've crafted every innovation in hull design and navigation with your ultimate experience in mind. Since our inception in 1884, BENETEAU has tirelessly pursued perfection, shaping living spaces and setting new standards on the water. Our commitment to building the sturdiest, safest, and most breathtaking boats remains steadfast. Rooted in a heritage of craftsmanship and driven by an unwavering passion for performance, the BENETEAU family's legacy shines through in every FIRST, FIRST SE, FIGARO, OCEANIS, and OCEANIS YACHT we create today.

The  world reference  in cruising. Oceanis is our range of long-distance, blue water cruisers that for years has set the standard for sailboat design and construction, with a hull that is a marvel in hydrodynamics,  Oceanis delivers superior performance  while providing stability and safety while under sail. Despite her strong sea legs, she doesn’t sacrifice luxury and comfort. You can choose your layout based on different configurations below deck and also have  your choice  of interior finishes. Your Oceanis will be a joy to sail and be  your home away from home . The Oceanis range continues to  appeal to all sailors  around the world.

Oceanis Yacht

The  Oceanis Yacht  is the culmination of our Oceanis philosophy where cruising comfort, performance, and customization reign supreme. Her elegant design and luxurious interiors add a new dimension to life at sea with an enormous salon, impressive galley, spacious staterooms, and plenty of ambient light from the many large windows and skylights. Despite her lavish details, our Oceanis Yacht maneuvers as easily as a smaller yacht thanks to a perfectly centered sail plan and twin rudders. She is a yacht that represents the  art of sailing  at its regal best.

40 years of iconic  brand heritage. The signature features of the FIRST range have not changed since its conception in 1977 – these boats have always been designed for  sailors  who enjoy club racing as much as cruising, joining them into one cohesive product line, the proverbial  best  of both worlds. Today, BENETEAU takes another step in this direction with the launch of the new FIRST range.  These boats offer simplicity, performances, and comfortable interiors and cockpits geared towards daysailing and coastal cruising. Renewing the competition spirit of the brand, they represent a true adaptation to the  needs and expectations  of the widest variety of sailors.

High-tech performance from the cutting edge of racing into the hands of the recreational sailors.  First SE - Seascape Edition encourages and empowers sailors to expand their comfort zone by joining competitive one-design racing and adventure sailing . It grows a community of owners linked by shared values and a drive to strengthen their sailing skills. Whether owners are racing against others in one-design classes or are engaging in adventure sailing, the First SE connects them to the elements and helps them experience nature in the most authentic way. A carbon rig, laminate sails and other technological features give sailors the ultimate sailing experience, performance and control.

A true legend. The Figaro is an ode to excellence in offshore racing. The one-design sailing yacht was initially designed for the Solitaire du Figaro, allowing some of the greatest skippers to compete at sea on equal terms, much to their pleasure. The sailor makes the difference on a Figaro.   

Heritage BENETEAU sailboats

Our history has been told many times in these last fifty years, but, to understand it, you need to grasp our company values, and return to its origins, since it is nothing but continuity and progression.

- Annette ROUX

DISCOVER ALL OUR SAILING BOATS AND LUXURY YACHT RANGES 

Are you looking for a  sailing yacht dealer ? Leisure boating, short trips, competitive sailing, regattas – whatever type of sailing you like, BENETEAU has a wide range of  sailing yachts  and  luxury yachts , so there’s bound to be a boat to fulfill your dreams. 

SAILING YACHTS FOR ANY TYPE OF SAILING 

We built our first sailboats over 138 years ago and many things have changed since then. The oak we once relied on has been replaced with strong but lightweight resin and carbon fiber. Where canvas once caught the wind, now it’s Kevlar and Vectran. We’ve transformed dark, confining salons and cabins into bright, open living spaces. And the list of innovations in hull design and navigation continues to grow at a rapidly increasing pace.

However, some things haven’t changed and never will. Benjamin BENETEAU’s philosophy of building the strongest, safest, most beautiful boats on the water is alive and well. The BENETEAU family’s pride in craftsmanship and passion for performance can easily be recognized in every FIRST, FIGARO, OCEANIS, and OCEANIS YACHT built today.  

Knowing what to keep and what to change – that’s why BENETEAU continues to set the bar in sailing.

OCEANIS: THE BEST SELLER

Oceanis is our range of long-distance, blue water cruisers and for years has set the standard for sailboat design and construction. With a hull that is a marvel in hydrodynamics, Oceanis delivers superior performance while providing stability and safety under sail. Despite her strong sea legs, she doesn’t sacrifice luxury and comfort. You can choose your layout based on different configurations below deck and also have your choice of interior finishes. Your Oceanis will be a joy to sail and be your home away from home.

OCEANIS YACHTS:LUXURY YACHTS

BENETEAU is also there to help you buy a top-quality boat. The OCEANIS Yacht line delivers  luxury sailing yachts  that satisfy this requirement perfectly. The line comprises two luxury craft of over 50 feet, designed by renowned architects and designers. 

FIRST: ICONIC PERFORMANCE SAILING

 Our 7th generation of the First range offers you the experience of pure sailing joy while staying true to our standards for safety and stability. She is lightweight with a streamlined design, making her highly adaptable to whatever the wind and water have in store. The First is fast but forgiving, spicy but safe – perfect for the thrill-seeking novice or seasoned competitive sailor alike.

FIRST SE: HIGH PERFORMANCE YACHTS

First SE - Seascape Edition encourages and empowers sailors to expand their comfort zone by joining competitive one-design racing and adventure sailing. It grows a community of owners linked by shared values and a drive to strengthen their sailing skills. Whether owners are racing against others in one-design classes or are engaging in adventure sailing, the First SE connects them to the elements and helps them experience nature in the most authentic way.

FIGARO: OFFSHORE AND PROFESSIONAL RACING

A marvel in racing innovation, the Figaro BENETEAU 3 is the first production foiling one-design monohull to ever grace the seas. Designed in collaboration between BENETEAU and Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost (the architects of the last two Vendée Globe winners), her greatest and most visible feature is the inverted foiling system created to reduce drift and improve the righting moment without increasing movement. The Figaro BENETEAU 3’s radical design makes her the logical choice when winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

SAILING YACHTS SAILING THE FIVE OCEANS 

This diversity has led to the BENETEAU brand being represented on all the world’s seas. But wherever they are, BENETEAU boats are easily recognizable for their taut lines, innovative design, robustness and performance. No doubt this will continue, since BENETEAU is constantly reinventing itself to provide ever more enjoyable, high performing, safe and user-friendly recreational craft. BENETEAU achieves this by making the most of current and future innovations such as ship control, dock and go, foils, etc.

Select your area and your language

• Chinese, Simplified

• FlySafe ® Foil Control
• iFLY Reviews
• Our Partners
• Distributors
• Class Association

Enter your keyword

“iFLY15 is the unique combination of high performance with easy accessibility – for maximum performance and maximum fun.”

Cec catamarans -ifly15 team, “we love speed while keeping control – high speed needs to be controllable. the flying boat of the future, is a stable foiling sport catamaran.”, cec catamarans – ifly15 team, „ foiling: one of the things you have to experience to really feel it. “, jimmy spithill, skipper oracle team usa, “stable flight is the key to high performance sailing”, “ifly15 – get the balance right between a nice sporting challenge and a reasonable and controllable level – enjoy the exhilaration, the speed and the adrenaline in your veins, but always stay master of the situation “, “stable flight attitude is the most important prerequisite for high performance sailing.”, victor diaz de leon, sailgp team usa, “stable flight attitude is key for easy foiling. ifly15 with superior flight stability delivers immediate flying fun within the first minutes. advantage through high-tech.”, “the ifly15 is the quickest boat around the course, … “, arno terra – sailor, ifly 15 one design and ifly razzor pro, the  performance  foiling  catamaran, for maximum speed and maximum control.

• Easy access to a high HIGH PERFORMANCE FOILING CATAMARAN
• Automated DYNAMIC FLIGHT Assistance SYSTEM – FLYSAFE® FOIL CONTROL
• highest quality standards – High-tech full carbon sailboat
• completely modular – fully customizable
• adjustable rake – MAIN FOIL DIFFERENTIAL during sailing for even more performance in the version IFLY Razzor Pro
• Foiling Versatility and Speed …

The quality and performance have been proven for 8 years and further developed to maximum perfection in every detail

IFLY HYDROFOIL SAILING – EXCELLENCE, FIELD PROVEN TO PERFECTION

Racing     and     more   …..

 Have a high performance racing machine on regattas

  single handed or double Foiling

  crew weight up to 180 kg

  Racing and fun:

  Sail with Family & friends

in any sailing condition:

  Full foiling – upwind and downwind

  Waves and Flat waters

  Light and strong winds

  early take off

  Foiling maneuvers

Transport and Facilities

  Easily transportable on a road trailer

  Slipped with a conventional beach trolley

  ready to sail in 20 minutes

  iFLY15 is designed to sail on the sea and lakes

Stay tuned for foiling events and specials!

Flysafe® Flight assistance

Main foil differential technology – mdt, innovative, sophisticated foil control for unbeaten performance, high speeds and easy access, ifly15 and ifly razzor pro, ifly main foil differential – mdt, ifly razzor pro.

early take off in lightest breeze

F oiling maneuvers are heavily supported, superior flight attitude through active foil control, dynamic control of f light high , pitch and role, non-linear control and feedback control system for best flight stability, even in waves, the foils do not need to be manually manipulated, optimized performance: advanced sailors can adjust rake and gearing, more about flysafe®>>>, active flight assistance, the foil can be trimmed actively while sailing, the key to maximum performance , mdt for performance-orientated pro sailor, mdt extends the flysafe® foil control, to sail large xxl rigs, more about main foil differential ->>>, performance downwind: staying on the foils, full foiling, in 5-6kts tws, reaching max. boat speeds of up to 2.5*tws, performance upwind: full foiling from 8kts. tws, taking off from 7kts tws, video youtube channel, ifly15 foiling catamaran.

The most innovative development in foiling technology

About ifly15, stable flight  is  key for both: first for highest performance and foiling in a wide wind range, including rough and wavy conditions, but also easy access into foiling…...

iFLY stands for uniqueness in design and function. Its superior Flysafe ® active foil control system autonomously supports the stable horizontal flight position in the longitudinal and lateral direction. The 4 T-Foils do not have to be operated by the sailor during sailing.

Average skilled dinghy or catamaran sailors with some trapeze experience can safely foil with the iFLY15 after only a few hours. Quick access – the immediate sensation of success – steep learning curve. In the hand of an experienced sailor, iFLY15 offers a whole new sailing experience with previously not experienced speeds and agile maneuverability.

The flight control system, combined with numerous fine-tuned innovations , ensures safe foiling even in strong winds and rough seas.. Stable flight attitude allows pushing hard, so in good conditions, iFLY reaches high boat speed beyond 30 knots in a controllable way.

IFLY15 offers freedom to fly alone or in pairs. Due to the exclusive use of high-tech materials , iFLY15 is extremely rigid and weighs less than 90 kilos ready to sail. With its low weight and its state-of-the-art hydrofoils, it is airborne in winds as low as 2Bft. / 6 Knots.

iFLY15 has a length of only 15 feet, is easy to transport, quick to get ready to sail, and can be easily slipped from the beach using a conventional beach trolley.

Its sophisticated design reflects the highest demands on quality and function.

iFLY15 – customer reviews

 « LESS CRASHING IS MORE FUN »

MARCUS LYNCH, PROFESSIONAL SAILOR AND OLYMPIC COACH, GC32 OMAN, NACRA17

« I WAS INITIALLY AMAZED AT HOW EASY TO HANDLE THE IFLY IS AND AT HOW IDLE THE BOAT IS EVEN IN STRONG WINDS. »

ANTOINE, IFLY OWNER FROM GENEVA

VERY STABLE, EXTRAORDINARY STABLE. IT IS EXTREMELY INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU IMMEDIATELY SEE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE BOAT.

FRANÇOIS GABART

« GREAT BOAT, LIKE A MOTH ON STEROIDS ! »

VICTOR DIAZ DE LEON, MIAMI, PROFESSIONAL SAILOR. US TEAM SAILGP, INTERNATIONAL MOTH, MATCHRACING MELGES 32, J70

WHAT A GREAT BOAT THIS IS, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT”

PHILIP WALKER

« THE DYNAMIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM ALLOWS LONG AND STABLE FLIGHTS »

GERHARD FLORIN, IFLY OWNER FROM GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

TO FELLOW SAILORS WHO LOVE THE THRILL OF SAILING WITH SPEED WHILE MAINTAINING CONTROL”

ROY BALLENTINE

« WELL BALANCED AND RAKE DIFFERENTIAL ALLOWING FOR GREAT PERFORMANCE UPWIND! »

CARLOS ROBLES,PROFESSIONAL SAILOR 49ER, PALMA DE MALLORCA

« A SENSATIONAL FOILING EXPERIENCE. THE SPEED IS IMPRESSIVE »

INGMAR WARNICKE: COMMODORE OF YCSO, YACHT CLUB SCHARBEUTZ, BALTIC SEA

⭐ ⭐   ⭐   ⭐   ⭐

IFLY RAZZOR PRO – THE NEW IFLY FOR EXPERIENCED SAILORS

THE SINCE 7 YEARS PROVEN IFLY15 WITH FLYSAFE® DYNMAMIC FOIL CONTROL has now a pur Racing fellow: THE iFLY RAZZOR Pro. THE iFLY racing VERSION ENABLES EVEN HIGHER PERFORMANCE, to sail in extremely tough conditions and allows sailing with XXL rigs. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IFLY15 ONE DESIGN AND THE IFLY RAZZOR PRO IS A BIGGER RACING RIG, SPECIAL FOILS AND THE MAIN FOIL DIFFERENTIAL (MDT), WHICH IS MANUALLY TRIMMED BY THE SAILOR. THE MDT IS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE FLYSAFE® DYNAMIC FOIL CONTROL SYSTEM.

flying – sailing – Blog

ROUND TEXEL RACE 2024

“We’re taking off! Foiling is THE Watersports Trend! – „Boot International 2024“ in Düsseldorf / Germany once again showcases: Foiling is THE trend in watersports.

Performance Sailing – Sail GP News: Racing on the Edge – T-Foil proves to be the winning design

Regatta and foiling News: Long distance Race – Duc d’Albe 2023 – Club Multicoques Hyères – sailing Race @iFLY Razzor Pro

iFLY Main Foil Differential Technology – MDT Foil Control – high Performance sailing

IFLY FOILING Adventure

FOILING – REGATTA – EVENTS

Long distance Race – Duc d’Albe 2021 – Club Multicoques Hyères – sailing Race @iFLY Razzor Pro

INTERNATIONAL IFLY foiling FLEET RACE 2021

Catamaran europe central, the iflysail team, is looking forward to your message.

Portsmouth Freedom Boat Club introduces e-foiling

by ERIN COOGAN, NBC 10 NEWS

PORTSMOUTH, RI (WJAR) — Something new is being offered to members of the Portsmouth Freedom Boat Club.

Members have a chance to get in the water and try the growing sport of e-foiling.

"They're doing it, they're learning, they're paying attention and most experiencing the exhilaration of flight," said Kerry Bond, the Northeast Sales Manager for Flightboard.

The sport brings together surfing and flying.

After about an hour of instruction, members can give it a try on Mount Hope Bay.

"If you've ever paddle boarded, have a good sense of balance, you can get it pretty quickly," said one member. "It really feels like you're flying, you're actually flying."

• MORE NEWS: Providence announces new mural in commemoration of PVDFest

The sport doesn't rely on a swell reaching shore, or wind conditions.

Instructors said it is all about increasing accessibility to water sports.

"I think people are understanding how accessible the technology is," said Bond. "Most anyone can do, and that's why we continue seeing the sport to continuing to grow."

The club has partnered up the Flightboard for a series of demonstrations at clubs across the country.

"Freedom is about getting people into the water," said Matt Ingber, the Freedom Boat Club Manager. "So we have a unique opportunity to provide another experience for our boaters to get into the water. It seems like a perfect fit."

Diving straight into the sport can be costly, with flightboard prices ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.

Prada's Patrizio Bertelli on His Sailing Ambitions for the Luna Rossa Project at the America's Cup

According to Britannica, the definition of passion is "a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something." This description perfectly describes Patrizio Bertelli 's never-abated gusto for sailing and his ambition to win the America's Cup - although he contends it's persistence rather than passion that is "the true motor."

For the past 25 years Bertelli has been investing in the Luna Rossa project to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, building increasingly technologically advanced sailboats and contributing to shaping the history of the prestigious competition.

The latest iteration of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli AC75 foiling monohull was christened in April in the Sardinian town of Cagliari by his wife, designer Miuccia Prada, as is the tradition. The boat is set to compete in the 37th edition of the  America's Cup  sailing race, which is taking place between Aug. 22 and Oct. 27 in Barcelona.

Decked in a metallic "Metal K"-colored livery, the AC75 marks the 10th Luna Rossa America's Cup hull unveiled since the first boat in 1999.

Built at the Persico Marine shipyard in Nembro, Italy, the sailboat, made of pre-preg carbon fiber, required 70,000 hours of work by 35 boat builders. It is equipped with a 25.6-meter mast with a soft wing comprising two twin mainsails and a headsail made of carbon and Dyneema.

At the time of the christening , Bertelli, chairman of the Prada luxury group and president of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, said the boat has "become an iconic name in sailing worldwide" and that he had accomplished the goal "to create a team of extraordinary technicians and sailors capable of shaping the future of sport in our country and leaving a legacy for future generations."

The upcoming America's Cup will mark Luna Rossa's seventh challenge, but sixth race. The team withdrew from the competition in 2015 after disagreeing with the overturning of rules that had been unanimously adopted the previous year by the then-Cup holder the Oracle Team of the U.S., which was owned by Larry Ellison. The Oracle team eventually lost the America's Cup to the New Zealand team.

This year, five challengers in the Louis Vuitton Cup regattas - Ineos Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, NYYC American Magic and Orient Express Racing - will battle it out on the water to win the right to face off against defender Emirates Team New Zealand for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Barcelona.

The Luna Rossa team was established in 1997 by Bertelli with the original name of "Prada Challenge for the America's Cup 2000." The team won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000, with a record of 38 victories over 49 races. It also competed in 2003 and in 2007, when it reached the Louis Vuitton Cup final.

Luna Rossa won the most recent Challenger Selection Series, the Prada Cup, in 2021 but  lost to contender  Emirates Team New Zealand, which succeeded in defending the 36th America's Cup with a 7-to-3 victory over Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, wrecking the latter's ambitions to take the trophy home.

Here, Bertelli explains why the America's Cup continues to hold his interest, reveals his expectations for this year and talks about the lessons learned through the different stages of the competition.

WWD: Beyond your passion for sailing, what moves you to continue to invest in Luna Rossa and in the America's Cup? When did you first think you wanted to participate once again?

Patrizio Bertelli: After the last edition in Auckland [New Zealand] I immediately said we would continue even without knowing at the time where the next challenge would take place. The Cup fascinates me because it's a difficult, complex project that requires to develop a team of highly professional individuals super specialized in many different sectors that know how to unite and work together in harmony for a long period of time at a pace that is very intense. It's a difficult structure to set up but even more to manage.

WWD: How does this reflect on you personally and what did you learn over the years from the past experiences?

P.B.: Since the first launch in Punta Ala [Tuscany], 25 years have passed and the enthusiasm is the same. As [Sir] Peter Blake wrote in the foreword to the first "Luna Rossa" book [on the 30 th America's Cup in 2000] it is the difficulty to win that makes the America's Cup so unique. Time is not important, it's necessary to have the courage to continue to try and not give up. This curious and strange game requires  persistence to reach the objective and it is the difficulty that gives meaning to the challenge. Passion has nothing to do with it, persistence is the true motor and behind this obstinacy is all the technological research that over these past years brought an enormous development to the world of sailing and repercussions also on daily sailing. It's a continuous challenge where you learn something every day.

WWD: How does all this affect Prada and the brand's products?

P.B .: There wouldn't be enough time to explore this in this interview, I would rather go back to talk about Luna Rossa.

WWD: How has Luna Rossa changed and how has the project changed over the years?

P.B.: Everything has changed if we look at all the challenges we took part in. In the first three challenges we sailed with the traditional IACC [International America's Cup Class yachts], which today seem almost prehistoric where the team was engaged in changes of sails at every lap and the regattas were stretched on for hours. Then the era of catamarans started with the 34th edition in San Francisco, fast boats with winged masts and rigid sails similar to wings of airplanes. Now from the last Cup, in 2020, we sail with flying boats that travel at more than 40 knots and that have only the helm and the lateral foils in the water. You don't change the sails, the regattas are very fast, they last around half an hour, and tactics and strategies have been revolutionized. The regatta field is limited by virtual boundaries, so it's entirely another story. But this is the America's Cup, the most advanced expression of this sport.

WWD: Some sponsors have also changed, and Oakley for example has joined as the new technical performance partner. Can you tell us abut the relationship with those who believe in the project with you, including skipper and team director Max Sirena?

P.B.: Our storied sponsor Pirelli has stayed on and I think the relationship with Marco Tronchetti [Provera, executive vice president of Pirelli, the co-title sponsor of the team] is increasingly more solid. Also Panerai and Woolmark have renewed their confidence in the team because they believe in it. We have two new sponsors, Oakley and Unipol. In addition, on the sails are now the logos of UNESCO and Sea Beyond, the educational project aimed at the protection of the oceans, born from a collaboration between our group and UNESCO. Then there are the suppliers that have a fundamental role in the project and with which the relationship developed over the years has increasingly strengthened. They represent Italian excellence and have obtained global recognition also thanks to Luna Rossa. With Max the relationship is excellent and consolidated, he has all my trust.

WWD: What are your thoughts now on Luna Rossa and the team? What has impressed you the most so far and how has the team evolved in parallel with the changes of Luna Rossa?

P.B.: Ever since the first challenge in 2000 we have invested a lot in our team because I think it is fundamental to compete at these levels. We have focused on the human relations, creating a community of interests that has generated strong and close-knit relations. There have been weddings, children, people that went to other teams and then returned recognizing the human quality of the relations within our team. Naturally in 25 years many things have changed to adapt to the evolution of the challenge and especially of the boats and the technology, even if a storied nucleus is still present.

Once we had a group of more than 30 sailors because we trained with two boats and there were 16 on board.  Today they are eight - two helmers, two flight regulators and four cyclists who, pedaling, produce the energy for the functioning of all the systems aboard. Instead, the design team has increased exponentially with the evolution of the boats and the systems. We have inserted AI, mechatronics and simulators.

The shore team has also changed. Today there is a true dockyard within the base, where we have realized both the hull for the LEQ 12 [less than or equal to 12 meters] training, the masts of Luna Rossa and many other parts of the boat.

WWD: How do you think this evolution will impact the sailing world?

P.B.: The impact is already visible on daily sailing. Today if you don't have a foil, from the sailing boards on, you are a "nobody." I think this course has been very fascinating for the new generations who find an added pleasure in speed.

WWD: What do you think about the other teams?

P.B.: It's premature and I don't like to talk about others. Surely they are all very well-prepared also because if you think you are not, it's best to give up. It is a very cynical competition because you work for years and then only one of us challengers will acquire the right to participate in the America's Cup against the New Zealanders.

WWD: Do you think you will be present in Barcelona for the whole time? What are your expectations?

WWD: Do you continue to sail?

P.B.: Certainly, whenever I can, I like to stay on the open sea and navigate.

WWD: I know you collect boats; can you tell us about this?

P.B.: It's a great passion, I very much enjoy it. I am fascinated by the restoration phase. We try to safeguard as much as possible the originality of the construction and return the original beauty and function to the boats. I also very much like to race with them. Today, modern boats require professional crews who need to be very well-prepared athletically. Instead, vintage boats allow me to race and have fun with a team of friends led by [Olympic Brazilian sailor] Torben Grael.

This year, we were gratified by winning both the 12 mR Pre-Worlds at Saint-Tropez as well as the 12 mR World Championship in Porquerolles [France] with Kookaburra II, a world championship we won twice before with Nyala and once with Kiwi Magic KZ 7.

More from WWD

• FMG President Amanda Smith Chats WWD Weekend and Its Luxury Evolution
• Galliano, Anderson and Prada In for 2024 Fashion Awards Nominations

Berthon Winter Collection

Latest issue

August 2024

In the August 2024 issue of Yachting World magazine: News Few finish a tempestuous Round The Island Race European rules are eased for cruising to France and Greece Olympic sailing…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Canova – The foiling superyacht designed for comfort

• Toby Hodges
• April 27, 2021

Not only the first foiling superyacht - or foil-assisted superyacht, but the first cruising yacht with a foil, the 142ft Canova is a groundbreaking project in so many ways, says Toby Hodges

Were you to somehow be teleported into foiling superyacht , Canova ’s palatial master cabin while under way – and let’s face it, many of us would like a sudden change of scene these days – you could be forgiven for thinking her owner doesn’t much like sailing.

For starters, it would seem remarkably quiet, thanks to the impressive insulation and a quiet ship system that ensures no unnecessary mechanical noise.

Then consider how surprisingly flat it feels for a monohull under sail, and not just because the generous berth you’re sitting on can gimbal.

However, once you look out of the considerable porthole, see the blue sea streaking past at over 20 knots and notice the orange plank of carbon fibre sticking out to leeward – which is serving to keep the boat a lot more upright than it should otherwise be – you’ll understand you’re actually aboard a truly state-of-the-art superyacht.

Lines and proportions are superb, hence it’s hard to gauge Canova’s size, and her long deckhouse blends in well. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

Anyone studying these pictures of Canova ripping along will quickly realise just how forward-thinking its owner is and how much he actually must enjoy sailing. Indeed, it can be argued that this yacht represents the present and future of cruising at speed and in utmost comfort.

Superyacht of the year

The 142ft/43m Farr design, launched from Baltic Yachts in October 2019, was conceived to be a powerful yet easily handled bluewater cruiser, capable of operating for long periods without specialist assistance.

It was commissioned by a serial yacht owner, who was also keen to minimise emissions by using hydro-generating electric propulsion. Canova was crowned sailing superyacht of the year winner 2020 at the World Superyacht Awards, with the jury commenting that it will “influence the future of sailing superyachts”.

Although this yacht teems with advanced technology throughout, you’ll notice little of it on boarding. You probably won’t even see the foil protruding while the boat is in port. The marvels of engineering have all been hidden behind a wonderfully luxurious cruising layout. Canova is a carbon epoxy wolf dressed in the finest lambswool clothing.

Demonstrating the foil, which retracts to the beam width of the boat. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

I was given a tour of the boat by her captain, Mattia Belleri, who project-managed the design and build over four years. I made the presumably common mistake of thinking Canova would be all about the foil, and while there are many integrated parts to that technological feat alone, I soon came to realise that the boat is full of innovative engineering, all aimed at creating a fast yet comfortable voyager.

Take the elegant, long and low deckhouse design for example, with its acreage of dimmable glass, which affords guests full protection and one-level living comfort.

Then there’s the inventive double deck design forward, which helps create room for a vast sail locker in which drums are stored for the furling foresails. And consider the diesel electric pod drive, which rotates to generate power while sailing.

Article continues below…

Inside the Infiniti 46 – video tour of the world’s first production offshore racer with DSS foils

Though most of us are captivated by the images of flying boats from International Moths to America’s Cup catamarans, the…

ClubSwan 36 review: This one-design foiler from Nautor really shakes things up

It’s easy to be seduced by modern high performance, especially downwind. As the wake flattens out astern and the foils…

Canova employs the most sustainable tech the yard felt it could use to still ensure it would still sail safely round the world.

The design team is extensive, including Gurit and BAR Technologies, but a lot of credit is given to the owner for his initial and enduring vision. “Everything began in the summer of 2015, when the owner started this quest of merging new technologies, volumes conception and energetic efficiency into a yacht,” Belleri stresses.

Foiling superyacht, Trend or trailblazer?

But let’s first address the talking point feature of the boat: a foil on a cruising superyacht… really?

Let’s remember that when Canova was being designed, monohulls with foils were still only really discussed in cult circles. And while we’ve seen this scene explode in racing, to the point where a boat is boring if it doesn’t fly and miraculously challenge physics, we’ve yet to see any foils employed for cruising purposes at all.

To decide to go ahead and create a foiling superyacht shows serious confidence in the technology.

Hugh Welbourn’s Dynamic Stability Systems (DSS) foil design has proved itself on smaller boats including the Infiniti 46 and 36 over the last decade, and retrofits have been successfully made to existing race boats such as Wild Oats XI and Wild Joe.

Helm stations and sailing systems are concentrated around Canova’s raised andbeamy aft deck. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

The multi-million dollar question here, though, was always going to be whether such a system would work on a 150-tonne superyacht.

In theory, the foil, which protrudes 22ft/6.7m horizontally to leeward to add masses of lift, should create a paradigm shift in fast cruising comfort. It was predicted to reduce heel and help the boat reach in comfort at sustained high speeds.

In practice, during initial sea trials Baltic tested the DSS upwind in 20-24 knots of wind and found not only a VMG increase, but a heel reduction of 30%. “To put these numbers into context, it would take an extra 33,000kg in the keel bulb – the total displacement weight of an IOR maxi – to achieve the same heel reduction,” Baltic reported.

During Canova ’s passage across Biscay in winter, aftersales representative Sam Evans described the yacht as much easier to handle with the foil deployed, “as boatspeed averaged between 20 and 22 knots and topped out at 24 knots”.

The DSS foil has also produced a dramatic reduction in pitching motion – measured at 42% less during trials – an element with which the owner was particularly impressed. Gordon Kay of Infiniti Yachts, the company that markets DSS, describes it as “industry-changing comfort”.

Although it’s a significantly complex piece of engineering, Baltic wanted to make the casing and mechanism to move the foil as simple and reliable as possible. The Finnish yard constructed a full-sized dummy system before the foil itself was fashioned by ISOTOP to within 1mm tolerance tip to toe.

It is controlled using a system of rope pulleys led to a Harken captive winch and, remarkably, can be pulled in or out at up to 17 knots of boatspeed.

As Belleri demonstrates the system, pushing the button to make the fluorescent diving board extend silently outwards, he explains that they wanted length for maximum leverage, but that it had to be practical too, to allow other boats to moor alongside. The resulting appendage is the same length as Canova ’s beam, so although the foil doesn’t retract fully, it meets a straight line to the top of the topsides.

Myriad push-button controls, including for two sets of deflectors, helps allow short-handed control of a powerful yacht. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

After a season spent mainly in the Tyrrhenian, especially in the breezy area between Sardinia and Corsica, Belleri tells me Canova has clocked over 25 knots, “and reaches the early 20s fairly quickly”. He also thinks her light wind performance is incredible: “she can sail at 14 knots in 9 knots of breeze.” “She’s fast, stable, silent and always ready to thrill,” he enthuses. “The foil was aimed primarily at comfort, motion dampening and reduced heeling and it is impressive to see how easily all these points are achieved at the push of a button.”

More retractable appendages

Advanced engineering is employed below the waterline too, in the form of a lifting keel with trim tab and an electrically-powered propeller leg. The latter rotates 170° each way to greatly ease manoeuvring. When sailing, water flow can turn the prop to generate energy and charge the lithium battery bank.

Belleri reports that the regeneration numbers go beyond expectations: “We have been generating many times more energy than required to sustain the yacht’s operational consumption.

Imagine sailing along at high speeds in full comfort, with no noise, no gases and no pollution, in a zero emissions energy balance. It is incredible and a must-try experience.”

Baltic predicts that Canova is able to sail across the Atlantic “using all her systems without recourse to conventional charging using an internal combustion engine”. The composite specialist also points out that the yacht was always devised around bluewater cruising, which means being independent of specialist support.

This includes the ability for it to be serviced without being lifted out. Canova can take her own weight sitting on her lifting keel in the raised position and the skipper told me they also wanted to be able to sail with the keel up in shallow waters. A super duplex stainless steel fin was constructed, with the keel mechanism itself made by APM in Italy.

Hiding the sails

At first glance, the rig may appear relatively conventional. The carbon Rondal mast and boom has electric in-boom furling and Carbolink rigging. A 3.5m batten supports the head of the huge square-top main, which can pass between the flying backstays once reefed.

The closer you look, the more you start to understand that the rig set-up is a clever one for power cruising once sails are unfurled.

The 7m guest tender carries a 1,000lt bladder for fuel bunkering and is housed under the flush foredeck. The 4.6m crew tender stows aft. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

The mast is stepped only slightly forward of the keel trunk, which leaves a large foretriangle area with tack points on deck for storm jib, staysail, self-tacking jib, code and asymmetric sails.

The really neat part is how this canvas stows. The three furling code and asymmetric sails use underdeck drum stowage, all housed in a gargantuan sail locker. The two drums act like giant fire hose reels. “They allow us to hoist and drop the heavy [400kg] furling sails safely, using minimal crew,” Belleri explains.

“I wanted furling sails that were easy to manage,” the skipper continues. The idea is that six permanent crew can run and actively sail the boat around the world and can manage a big (1,200m2) gennaker downwind. The sail options also include a quadrilateral, twin-clewed headsail, developed with Infiniti Yachts to complement the DSS system, which has found favour with the crew for its wide performance range.

The foredeck is kept particularly clean thanks to the intelligent design of hiding a second deck below. This keeps mooring equipment, including capstans, cleats and warps, all away from view yet accessible. The captive winches are also contained here, all built in carbon, which equates to a reported 200kg weight saving on each of the eight winches.

A large portion of the space below the foredeck is reserved for the guest tender. A crane mounts on deck to lift the 1.5 tonne limo into the water. The 7m length of this boat was one of the driving forces for the yacht’s overall dimensions, as the guest tender is also equipped with a 1,000lt bladder to allow for fuel bunkering in remote locations.

This also means there’s a proper watertight bulkhead aft instead of a traditional garage. Instead, the 4.6m crew tender stores in the lazarette under the aft deck. The aft deck itself is high enough to give clear visibility from the two outboard pedestals over the deckhouse and forward. “The idea was to be able to see the jib furler from the helms,” says Belleri.

Influential design

The design and construction of the deckhouse is another standout feature that should influence the design of large cruising yachts in the future. Why? Because of how well it blends into the lines, how much comfort it affords guests, and how well-finished it is for what is a seriously complex piece of engineering.

The guest cockpit, which is fully-protected by the hard bimini extending from the superstructure, is on the same level as the decksaloon. It means the guests have an amazing amount of protected space to enjoy their surroundings with almost unhindered views.

The whole aft section of the roof is freestanding and incorporates side windows that drop down at the push of a button to let fresh air into the guest cockpit.

Dimmable glass is used on the coachroof windows and skylights, all highly UV-protective to spare the interior woodwork. Made by Vision Systems, the dimming level of each window is adjustable.

Electric windows can be lowered to increase fresh air in the guest cockpit. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

As well as incorporating all this glass, the structure and its central supporting bulkhead has to take the 24-tonne loads of the mainsheet track. The traveller stretches over the beam of the roof, which helps keep loaded sheets away from the guest area.

The styling by Lucio Micheletti here – and throughout the interior – is particularly tasteful. It is peaceful and in harmony with the design. The majority of the finish is in teak timber veneers and white panelling, making natural light the star of the show.

Canova ’s general accommodation plan is formidable for cruising purposes. The guest accommodation is all forward of the saloon and central bulkhead. The presumption when you walk into the forward cabin is that this must be the owner’s suite – it certainly feels large and luxurious enough.

This makes for a particularly pleasant surprise then when you find the real deal beneath the deck saloon – in the most sensible, central section of the yacht, which boasts the greatest beam with the least pitching.

The owner’s full-beam suite is located almost amidships where there is least motion. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

The owner’s 65m2 apartment features a gimballing island berth, the largest bathroom or ‘spa’ you could imagine on a sailing yacht, including sauna and carbon fibre bath tub, plus his and hers/walk in wardrobes and washbasin areas. The owners spend a lot of time aboard so the idea was to provide the most comfortable facilities possible.

The crew area is all located abaft the saloon, with a central galley and private access from the aft deck. It’s an excellent design for ensuring privacy between guests and crew, while providing the accessibility serving staff need.

His and hers changing and bathroom areas in the master cabin. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

The day heads and entrance to the engine room are at the foot of the companionway to the saloon. The bank of programmable logic controllers in the control room should warn you that this is no ordinary engine room.

An electric heart

The machinery room proper houses the remarkably compact 420kW propulsion motor, two custom 210kW Cummins generators and six banks of Alkasol lithium-ion batteries.

The benefits of choosing this electric-hybrid route over conventional diesels include less vibration, noise, smell, maintenance, fewer running hours and a fraction of the oil required. And it is much more efficient, because the high-voltage charges are quicker and the gensets never run unnecessarily.

The 750V DC system is supplied by batteries, shorepower or generators. The generators were custom-built in carbon housings to optimise size, weight and performance and can charge the battery bank in two hours. The engineer shows me how everything is controlled from a Toughbook screen, flicking a genset on with the swipe of a finger. Canova can run silently at 9 knots with only one generator running.

I notice how comparatively cool it is in here. The engine room is strictly temperature controlled to a max of 31°C (as opposed to a more conventional 50°C or so). The battery bank and powerful inverters are water-cooled and the gensets have built-in ventilation extraction units.

It also feels alien to be able to talk rather than shout with a genset running. A lot of attention was paid to insulation, particularly as we are only one bulkhead away from the owner’s cabin (the 9m foil running under his berth encouraged the yard to focus intently on insulation). Mounting the batteries vertically also reportedly helps with damping.

Canova is all about mixing comfort with high technology. Micheletti’s styling reflects this technological clean design. Photo: Baltic/Carlo Borlenghi

With such a large battery and electrical capacity, the need for hydraulics is reduced, hence less weight and fewer space-hungry cables. The flexible energy system used means that power can be generated from multiple sources. The captive winches for instance draw energy, but when you sheet out they also create energy that can be tapped.

Belleri says the owner wanted the electric-hybrid technology from the outset, but that it needed to be safe and reliable for bluewater sailing. The environmental side was one of the big draws.

“Superyachting is not a green industry so we tried our best to go that way,” the skipper explains. “But it’s not fully possible without gensets yet.”

Instead he feels that the combination of electric engine, inverters, batteries and generators gives them plenty of redundancy power for cruising. COVID may have put their cruising temporarily on hold, but Canova ’s crew is still gearing up to start a circumnavigation later this year.

Fast forward

We often see technology trickle down from the racing or superyacht sides of sailing, where the large budgets and thirst for technology abound.

Many of the big ideas employed on Canova have been around for some years, including DSS foils and the regenerating drive system. But it takes a bold project (and owner) such as this to integrate them practically before people really take notice.

Canova is like a giant Swiss Army knife: it has so many useful features it can pull out, which stow away to leave a graceful profile. I would go so far as to say the sheer quantity of intelligent design incorporated makes this as innovative a project as we’ve seen to date in the superyachting world.

It is actively using technology, design and engineering that may have a telling effect not only on sailing superyachts, but on many cruising yachts to come. Given a choice, Canova is certainly the boat I would choose to be beamed aboard right now.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.