The 7th Hydrofoil Awards ceremony was held on April 18 in Genoa, Italy, and included the 7th Hydrofoil Congress. Since its establishment in 2016, the Hydrofoil Award has become a vane for hydrofoil enthusiasts and the industry, and each medal carries the countless efforts and dreams of the winners.
Wind and mechanically driven boats competed for the competition, and some electric boat companies were awarded in the three categories of power boats, commercial projects and water toys for their excellence. These awards are not only an affirmation of their hard work in the past year, but also an expectation for their future innovation and development.
That night, the global hydrofoil community voted online for the best hydrofoil athletes, projects and products of the past 12 months. On a star-studded stage, journalists unveiled the impressive accolades with Francesca Frazza, Social Media Manager at We Are Foiling, and Bacci Del Buono, Italian sailing TV presenter.
The Genoa City Council has given strong support to this event, officially including it in the "Genoa City of Sports 2024" program, which fully reflects the public's recognition and love for Hydrofoil Week. In addition, the event was supported by the Italian Yachting Association (Confindustria Nautica) and the assistance of Te Taurapa Tūhono, a government agency of the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.
During the welcoming ceremony, Luca Rizzotti, founder of We Are Foiling, reviewed the outstanding products and projects from the previous six editions of the competition, and highlighted that the Hydrofoil Awards have today become an important springboard for the hydrofoil community and its global industry. As he left the stage, he drew attention to the upcoming 11th edition of Hydrofoil Week, which is at the heart of the We Are Foiling ecosystem of events and initiatives, which will take place from 24 to 30 June in Marcezín, Lake Garda.
During the welcoming ceremony, Luca Rizzotti, founder of We Are Foiling, reviewed the outstanding products and projects from the previous six editions of the competition, and highlighted that the Hydrofoil Awards have today become an important springboard for the hydrofoil community and its global industry. As he left the stage, he drew attention to the upcoming 11th edition of Hydrofoil Week, which is at the heart of the We Are Foiling ecosystem of events and initiatives, which will take place from 24 to 30 June in Marcezín, Lake Garda.
After last year's winner, the winner of the inaugural competition, the SailGP organisers, returned the trophy, Alessandra Bianchi, a member of the Council for Facilities, Sports Activities and Tourism of the City of Genoa, solemnly presented the trophy to Martin Evans, President of the WASZP class. This moment is not only a recognition and encouragement for the WASZP class, but also an encouragement and expectation for the entire hydrofoil community.
7th Hydrofoil Congress
The 7th edition of the Hydrofoil Congress was held within the grand framework of the first World Hydrofoil Congress, promoted and organized by the Hydrofoil Organization (also part of the We Are Foiling galaxy), which since the 17th has brought together the elite of the international industry in beautiful Genoa to witness the event.
The 14th award is the Forlanini award, which is awarded by a jury to the best overall strength hydrofoil achiever of the past 12 months – the entity that has made the most significant contribution to the hydrofoil world. The award honors the memory of Enrico Forlanini, the pioneer of Italian hydrofoils. Franni conceived and tested the first prototype hydrofoil in Lake Maggiore, which broke through the water in 1906 at an astonishing speed of 38 knots – a feat some 120 years ago. Today, the legacy of the Franny Award is the best tribute to this great pioneer, and at the same time inspires future generations to continue to pursue excellence and scale new heights on the road of hydrofoil technology.
List of winners of the 7th edition
动力艇：Future Foiling
Awarded for the best engine-driven hydrofoil of the last 12 months
Like a sports car on the water, the Futur-E combines the elegance of a yacht, the innovation of automotive design and the essence of aviation technology. Cleverly borrowing from the kinematics of a Formula 1 car suspension, it translates the inspiration into four retractable hydrofoil plates that work in tandem with the electric engine to ensure both efficient sailing and maximum use of energy. In addition, the FUTUR-E's hull is made of eco-sustainable materials, which is a consistent expression of respect for the natural environment.
Commercial project: Artemis EF 20H commercial patrol boat
Best hydrofoil project for commercial use in the last 12 months
The Artemis eFoiler patrol boat is designed to serve companies and organizations such as the Coast Guard, offshore wind operators, and offshore oil rigs. The hybrid EF-20H patrol boat has a two-deck cabin and can accommodate 5 crew members and 15 passengers. According to Artemis, its "unrivalled stability reduces the risk between helicopter and vessel maneuvering, ensuring a smoother and safer transfer of people or cargo." ”
水上玩具:Hydrofoil
Best water toys of the past 12 months
One of Hydrofilerder's riders described it as a fantastic blend – the lightness of a hoverboard, the speed of a jet ski, the smoothness of a powder snowboard and the freedom of a flying machine. As it hurtles across the water, you feel almost no resistance, bumps, or impacts, just the sheer pleasure of gliding. "It looks like an electric surfboard with handlebars, using a wireless network controller connected to the handlebars to control speed. The controller feeds the signal to the on-board computer, which in turn sends a signal to the lithium battery to power the motor. Once the rider reaches a speed of around 4-5 knots, the lift and thrust begin to work their magic, and the Hydrofiler begins to surface, giving the rider an ultimate experience like never before.
量产船：Switch Foiler
The best hydrofoil sailing yachts that have been in production and sailing in the last 12 months
Called the Switch, it is a new type of hydrofoil sailboat designed in Italy. It is 3.9 meters long and 2.25 meters wide (with "wings"), and thanks to its all-carbon structure, it is very light, capable of flying at 30 knots on its inverted T-shaped attachment and taking off at winds of 5-6 knots. Its appearance seems to be a subversion of traditional sailing design, and some even compare it to "anti-moth" at sea, implying that it is completely different from traditional sailing boats, and is a revolutionary innovation.
Foiling Pathway：Wasp Class（黄蜂级）
For the realization of the best projects of the last 12 months to promote hydrofoils of international federations or organizations
One-Off Boat ：Baltic Raven 111
The best hydrofoil technology large sailing yachts that have been sailing in the last 12 months, but are not used for commercial production
The Baltic 111 "Raven" is a 34-metre-long hydrofoil-equipped superyacht. Designed for sailors who want ultimate speed and comfort. This boat is not only a symbol of high performance, but also the perfect interpretation of short, high-speed cruising. The project was designed by Botin Partners and PURE Design, two names that are leading the way in yacht construction, including the America's Cup boat race. One of its main features is the two huge T-shaped hydrofoils, which are not only beautiful, but also have strong support, capable of carrying part of the ship's displacement of 55 tons, allowing the Raven to soar over rough seas.
In the stern, the "Raven" was equipped with "interceptor flaps", which were able to quickly adjust the trim angles of the bow and stern, as on a motor boat. In addition, the ship is also equipped with a movable ballast water tank with two built-in water tanks, which cleverly increases the righting torque during navigation to ensure smooth and safe navigation.
The hull and deck structure is pre-impregnated carbon fibre IM with Kevlar honeycomb sandwich. The interior of the Raven was designed by Jarkko Jämsén, and the combination of exposed carbon fibre and Nomex cores ensures that it is both lightweight and ultra-modern. The glass sides of the large cockpit are prominent, creating a kind of inverted observation "dome", through which passengers can enjoy an unobstructed view of the fine details inside the boat. The Raven uses a unique diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system that not only reduces emissions, but also achieves a balanced weight distribution, making sailing more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Project under development: Seair Flying Pursuit Craft - D-boat 120
The award is given to the best project in the last 12 months that is still in the design phase but has not yet been launched
Flani General Award - WASZP Class (Wasp Class Monohull Hydrofoil Sailing)
ARTICLE TITLE
The award was given to the Wasp Class (who is also the winner of the 2024 Foiling Pathway Award). This choice was based on a thorough consideration of the price, as the Wasp Class is more affordable than comparable vessels, opening up the possibility of owning it to a wider range of women and men. Not only is it an ideal springboard to higher-end boats, but it also proves its quality and strength with its outstanding performance in national and international competitions. The awarding of this award is undoubtedly a recognition of the excellent performance of the Wasp Class, and also an affirmation of its promotion of the popularization and development of nautical sports.
最佳男/女水手:Sam StreetHattie Rogers
Honoring the best hydrofoil of the past 12 months
Hydrofoil event: Sail GP Grand Prix Saint-Tropez
Best hydrofoil races of the last 12 months (not the whole series, but a single race).
帆船队：11Th Hour Racing Team
Best Hydrofoil Team Achievement of the Past 12 Months
Innovative technology: AC40 control system
The best hydrofoil design solutions in the last 12 months that are particularly suitable for flight control or part design or construction (excluding hulls), including non-sail-driven vessels.
America's Cup first AC40 monohull hydrofoil racing and pursuit boat test video
Sustainability: Crazy Lobster
The best ideas, inventions, designs and/or initiatives that have had a beneficial impact on the environment in the past 12 months.