At the heart of the Rolex SailGP Championship lies a marvel of marine engineering: the F50 catamaran.
Equal parts technological breakthrough and athletic proving ground, the F50 represents the pinnacle of high-performance sail racing.
Innovation at lightning speed
The F50
Up to 103 km/h
These 50-feet (49.24 metre), 2,400 kg catamarans are one-design craft, meaning every team competes in an identical boat. Representing the cutting edge of engineering, they are designed to lift above the water using hydrofoils, thereby reducing drag and increasing speed dramatically, to more than 100 km/h.
The F50 features modular wing sails that adapt to changing wind conditions, advanced telemetry systems and high-precision controls.
Continuous enhancements ensure the F50 remains at the forefront of performance technology.
It requires seamless coordination among six elite athletes, each managing specific aspects of speed, balance and manoeuvring.
Driver, strategist, flight controller, wing trimmer and grinders work in extraordinary synchrony, processing vast volumes of real-time data from more than 1,200 sensors. Reflexes must be instantaneous, teamwork instinctive and decision-making flawless – all within the tight confines of a race lasting 10–15 minutes. It is a platform where innovation meets athleticism.
From carbon-fibre construction to real-time data sharing, the F50 is not just fast, it is smart.
Every movement, every adjustment is captured and analysed, embodying the next frontier of on-water racing.