There is a new paradigm in sailing performance: WINGS. However, rigid wing-sails have a major pain point: they cannot be raised, collapsed or reduced easily, thus drastically limiting the fields of application beyond short elite races such as the Americas’ Cup.
The SoftWing solution: For the first time since the apparition of rigid wing-sails in 1972, it is now possible to equip boats/ships with a wind propulsion system that allies the unmatched performances of rigid-wing type sail, with the convenience and ease of use of a classical sail: UP/DOWN, at any time.
A BIG market potential: in a survey conducted by french leading sailing magazine "Voiles et voiliers" in june 2013, 85% 252 respondents expressed a positive/very positive opinion a the idea of sailing a cruising boat equipped with a soft wing-sail.
SoftWings are currently rigged on a performance cruising 29 feet trimaran, as well as on a competition high-tech foiler platform. In February 2014, comparative tests will be conducted on two F18 catamarans, one rigged with a SoftWing, the other with a classical rigging.