The seventh edition of the SuMoth Challenge has recently come to a close on the waters of Lake Garda. Hosted by the Fraglia Vela Malcesine, the international competition brought together the world’s top university teams in the fields of naval engineering, design and sustainable development of next-generation foiling boats.

Taking centre stage this year was the Audace Sailing Team from the University of Trieste, competing with two boats: the new prototype BAI – Flax Bandit, helmed by Leonardo Centuori, and the updated BAI – Flying Lina, sailed by Zeno Tarlao. Both are the result of intensive work over the past year, with the design phase starting in October 2024 and construction beginning in February.

On the water, the UniTS team stood out for its exceptional performance, winning every race and receiving the award for the most high-performing boat in the competition. In the overall rankings, the Audace Sailing Team secured second place, finishing just behind the team from Politecnico di Milano, whose prototype featured more refined finishes but was less advanced from a fluid dynamics perspective.

This result is a major motivational boost for the entire team, who now look ahead confidently to the development of their next vessel. The BAI – Flax Bandit project will be retained as the foundation for future work, with a focus on improving construction techniques and optimising key design elements, particularly the hull structure and foil profile.

Confirming the team’s technical excellence, the project received extremely positive feedback from leading companies in the nautical sector, who praised both the engineering quality and the originality of the design solutions. This recognition further strengthens the team’s resolve to continue developing with enthusiasm in the next phase of the project.