TIxWave
SKAW Lab's mission was to optimize this 9-meter AC9F monohull, originally designed for the Youth America’s Cup 2021, for sailing conditions on the Geneva Lake.
We designed new foils, rudder and a gennacker for this exceptional boat and the boat won the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2025 in the F2 category.
At the request of Bernard Vananty, the owner and a foil enthusiast, SKAW Lab has developed more powerful, robust, and efficient foils, enabling the boat to sail upwind while flying, lift off at just 7 knots, and reach more than twice the wind speed with remarkable stability. The improvements are significant: +18% righting moment, drag reduced by half, a longer and refined rudder, a new gennaker, and an optimized deck layout. We are proud of the improvements made and cannot wait to follow the team in their training for the Ruban, Lake Geneva record.
QFX
A 35ft boat designed by Hugh Welbourn.
SKAW Lab designed a new version of foils, more efficient and optimized for lake conditions. The idea was to boost the boat’s performance upwind and at low speed in order to benefit from the foils earlier. The new port foil is being tested on the boat now, before optimizing it further for the starboard side.
SKAW Lab mission was to design the foils, foil systems and to advise on the design of the newest Nautic Boat motorboat.
VINI LAB
Vini Lab is a project born from the meeting of three engineers: Boris Horel, PhD in Naval Hydrodynamics from École Centrale de Nantes, Gautier Destombes, methods engineer at the Airbus Technocentre in Nantes, and Benoît Marie, sailor and Arts & Métiers engineer.
The idea was to create an eco-built laboratory boat to test different appendage configurations for offshore racing boats (Mini 6.50, IMOCA, etc.). The prototype was 98% built from recycled parts and materials, reflecting a responsible approach deeply embedded in the project’s DNA. It was used to test different foils and foil configurations for our fully foiling Mini 6.50.
The project was awarded by BPI France for the development of more virtuous manufacturing methods within the framework of the circular economy, and by the Pays de la Loire region with the TPI grant.