SuMoth project: an eco-designed hydrofoil sailboat

Steps to take part in the race

The Foiling SuMoth Challenge is a student competition whose aim is to design, build and sail the most sustainable and efficient Moth class sailboat (IMCA) possible.

Mid-February 15 teams will be selected from universities all over the world (ETS Montréal, Polytechnique Milan, Polytechnique Turin, Southampton University, etc.). Selection will be based on an engineering report, in which students must respond to precise specifications and justify their design choices. 15 teams will be selected to take part in the Challenge on Lake Garda in Italy from June 22 to July 1, 2024.

Teams will be judged by professionals from the world of sailing during the engineering, manufacturing and competition phases. The boat will have to comply with precise specifications to take part in the various events: time trial, regatta, explanation of design choices in front of the jury and other teams.

Design and manufacture of the Wave association sailboat

The aim of the competition is to design a Su-moth: "Su" for Sustainable and "Moth" for the class of boat that corresponds to a lightweight dinghy on foils, as eco-designed as possible.

Since January 2023, some twenty students in their 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of aeronautical and naval studies have been working on the modeling and design of their sailboat, as well as on the optimization of the hulls and foils.

After working on the design, the manufacturing phase begins with tests in the ESTACA'LAB laboratory to select the right materials for manufacturing the hull and interior partitions.

To design in the most eco-friendly way possible, the team has chosen to work with second-hand rigs, innovative renewable materials, new manufacturing methods and to work on the boat's hydrodynamics... For example, the Wave team will be using basalt fiber to replace carbon fiber, cork to replace plastic foams and bio-sourced resins. The Sumoth Wave will measure 3.35m long and 2.25m wide, and should weigh less than 40kg.

Three studies have been integrated into the 3rd and 4th year engineering curriculum as part of the Associated Technological Engineering Projects (PITA). They concern dimensioning using the finite element method, SuMoth stability and life cycle analysis. The association defined specifications based on the hypotheses put forward, which were validated by the School's teacher-researchers before assigning students to carry out these technical studies.

Assembly of all the components with a first prototype is scheduled for March 2024, so that tests can be carried out next spring, with a view to taking part in the race at the beginning of July. A project combining technique, technology and human quality.