SEAir’s 40ft monohull set for 2018 build

01 Dec 2017

SEAir’s first flying 40ft (12m) monohull is designed for both record attempts and offshore races

SEAir has announced construction of its first flying 40ft (12m) monohull will begin in 2018 with a late 2018/early 2019 launch.

The monohull is designed to be well-suited to both record attempts and offshore races and already has six potential major clients globally.

Bertrand Castelnerac, co-founder of SEAir, said: “Imagining a line of big brothers starting with the 40-footers, is becoming more normal for us. Our design studies and tests have also led us to ask some essential questions.

“Developing this type of boat takes a long time, there are no shortcuts. But it is clear that, whatever the size of the foiling boat, it will be faster than non foilers of the same size in most conditions.”

Foil design

Having recently announced the design of the ‘fully flying’ AC75 monohull, which will be the new boat for the next America’s Cup, the New Zealand America’s Cup team has helped pave the way for SEAir to develop in the field of foil design and build.

Mr Castelnerac added: “The future AC75 ‘Full flying’ monohulls as announced by the New Zealand America’s Cup team reinforces SEAir’s efforts in foil research, particularly when it comes to canting. Because we are swinging the foil and not retracting it, we can achieve better stability with a lower centre of gravity.

“Given the complexity of the foils on the AC75, you then have to ask, who can build them? This is where SEAir’s experience in automated manufacturing of carbon foils comes into play. We have already discussed these issues with three different America’s Cup teams.”

via Boating Business | SEAir’s 40ft monohull set for 2018 build.