Foiling design is shifting from pure speed to usability and accessibility. From CFD simulations to prototyping, designers are exploring how to scale foilers for broader markets—while balancing trade-offs in cost, safety, and ease of use.
Breakthroughs in hull design and advanced composites are delivering lighter, faster, and more stable foilers, yet questions remain about recyclability and long-term costs.
This session explores how these innovations can shape the future of foiling and their potential path to mainstream production.

Two strategies are emerging to bring foiling to a wider market: digital workflows and series production on one hand, and retrofitting existing fleets on the other. But retrofit is realistically only an option for smaller boats, given cost and structural constraints. This panel weighs how scalable each pathway is, and what they mean for builders considering their first step into foiling.

Clear standards are increasingly seen as the foundation for foiling’s growth, affecting safety, insurance, and credibility. Classification societies, international marine bodies, and insurers will debate how certification can open markets and build trust with clients, while also raising questions about cost and flexibility. For builders and service providers, the discussion highlights how standards could shape competitiveness in the near future.

Foiling and electric propulsion are natural allies: efficiency extends range and reduces energy use. Increasingly, though, comfort — smoother rides, less slamming, better passenger experience — is as important as efficiency in driving adoption. Still, lifecycle impacts and recyclability remain critical questions. Is electric foiling the gateway to sustainable and comfortable boating, or just a premium niche?

Foiling boats raise new demands for ports, marinas, and service networks: lifting systems, maintenance skills, spare parts. But a key angle is that adapting foiling to existing infrastructure is often not expensive, making adoption easier than many fear. The discussion will weigh whether the sector should invest ahead of demand, or rely on clever adaptation to lower barriers.

As foiling leaves the world of prototypes, how can traditional yards engage? Partnerships, licensing, and pilot projects all offer lower-risk entry routes. The session will explore early examples and lessons learned, showing the pathways available without requiring massive upfront investment.

Foiling changes the economic equation: higher build costs versus efficiency, comfort, and market differentiation. In this session we will dig into real numbers, examining how builders, customers, and investors evaluate the return on investment. Are customers really willing to pay the premium?

Foiling has already transformed tenders, offering smoother rides, efficiency, and prestige. The next frontier is whether foiling can scale to large yachts themselves — a topic raising both excitement and skepticism. This session explores opportunities for suppliers and yards: tenders as today’s entry point, and the technical, comfort, and cost challenges of tomorrow’s superyacht foilers.

Looking forward, where is demand most likely to grow? Leisure, commercial transport, and mobility sectors all present opportunities. The discussion will consider which drivers — green regulation, lifestyle trends, or racing prestige — are most likely to shape the next decade, and what that means for builders and suppliers.

Competition has been the engine of foiling innovation, producing advanced foils, control systems, and structural solutions. The debate lies in transferability: what can mainstream builders realistically adopt, and what is locked behind extreme rules and budgets? Some view racing as a test bed; others caution it creates expectations that don’t match market realities.

Versatility is the next challenge: platforms that can serve leisure, commercial, and transport roles. Multipurpose designs promise to expand the market, but critics warn they risk being “good at many things, but great at none.” This session will explore whether adaptability or specialization holds the key to foiling’s broader appeal.