The 2025 SuMoth Challenge Sets Sail at Lake Garda with a Record Fleet and a Global Push for Sustainably Oriented Innovation

Shaping the Future of Sustainable Boatbuilding: Where Innovative Materials, Designs, Methods and Passion Intersect Toward a Cleaner Future

Today, the 2025 SuMoth Challenge launches from the stunning shores of Lake Garda, hosted by We Are Foiling at Fraglia Vela Malcesine from June 15th to 21st. With 15 university teams from 7 nations and 11 boats confirmed for racing, this will be the largest and most globally diverse edition of the challenge to date.

Backed since its inception by 11th Hour Racing — the Title Sponsor from day one — the SuMoth Challenge is a student-led competition at the crossroads of high-performance foiling, materials innovation, and environmental responsibility. Through applied R&D, open-source engineering, and design-for-sustainability, it reimagines how the next generation of naval architects, sailors, and engineers can shape the future of the marine industry.

“SuMoth wouldn’t exist without the foundational support of 11th Hour Racing,” says Bruno Giuntoli, SuMoth Challenge founder and manager. “They believed in our vision from the start and continue to be a vital force in empowering student-led marine innovation with sustainability at its core.”

“Having all these bright, passionate students pushing the boundaries of efficient foiling and sustainable design is exactly the kind of progress the marine industry needs,” adds Luca Rizzotti, founder of We Are Foiling. “SuMoth is more than a competition — it’s a glimpse into what the future of sailing could and should be.”

What Makes 2025 Different

 The 2025 edition brings new energy, innovation, and accessibility. With all teams participating in the first design and engineering stage (S1), 11 student-built boats will compete on the water across stages S2 and S3 — marking the largest SuMoth racing fleet ever assembled.

Participating teams represent universities from Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. The PoliMi Sailing Team, reigning champion from 2024, returns to defend its title against a field of new challengers — many of whom are already demonstrating impressive potential in their first year.

Each team builds upon the open-access database of previous years’ technical work, allowing newer entrants to leap ahead while experienced teams push the boundaries further in every aspect: from lightweight construction and LCA integration to next-gen rigging and hull forms.

“It’s impressive to see the quality of the designs this year,” continues Bruno Giuntoli. “Compared to last editions, the boats are already showing major advancements in both engineering and construction. The amount of work these teams have put in is remarkable, and we can’t wait to see them challenge each other on the water.”

More Than a Regatta: A Sustainability Testbed

Unlike traditional student sailing events, SuMoth is a full-cycle innovation challenge. It’s not just about going fast — it’s about rethinking how boats are designed, built, raced, maintained, and eventually retired. Each team is evaluated on a comprehensive set of criteria that extends far beyond performance on the water:

• Material selection & traceability — Teams must justify every material choice, not just for performance, but for environmental impact, sourcing transparency, and end-of-life outcomes.
  
• Sustainable manufacturing methods — Students apply cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient processes, often adapting industrial techniques for small-scale, educational use.
  
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using MarineShift360 — With guidance from industry-standard tools, teams analyze the environmental footprint of their boats from cradle to grave, gaining firsthand experience with real-world decision-making under sustainability constraints.
  
• Digital and structural modeling — Teams use advanced CAD, FEA, and fluid simulation tools to optimize their boats’ structure and performance while minimizing resource use and waste.
• Repairability, durability, and circular thinking — From modular components to reusable molds, students explore how to extend product lifecycles, anticipate damage scenarios, and design for easy repair, repurposing, or recycling.
  

This makes SuMoth more than a race — it’s a hands-on sustainability lab and a proving ground for tomorrow’s marine professionals. Whether they go on to work in yacht design, composite engineering, or maritime policy, students leave the challenge equipped with the mindset and tools to drive meaningful change in the industry.

By bridging performance and environmental accountability, SuMoth is helping shift what “innovation” means in the marine sector — from incremental speed gains to systemic, scalable solutions.

A New Chapter: Enter the SuSkiff

As momentum grows, SuMA+ is preparing to launch a new complementary challenge: the SuSkiff. Unlike the high-speed, foil-borne SuMoth, the SuSkiff focuses on a more accessible boat type where the challenges shift toward alternative materials, simplified construction, and practical sailing applications.

“SuSkiff opens the door for broader participation and new types of innovation,” says co-founder Catarina Marciano Alves. “It’s about rethinking what sustainable sailing means across all levels of access and performance — not just elite foiling.”

A preview of the SuSkiff concept will be shared during the SuMoth 2025 event week, further expanding SuMA’s mission to empower innovation from the bottom up.

Partners in Progress
SuMoth is powered by a coalition of forward-looking partners dedicated to transforming the future of marine design:

• 11th Hour Racing – Title Sponsor since day one, championing sustainability and systems change in sailing.
  
• MarineShift360 – Offering comprehensive LCA tools for informed decision-making in design and material use.
  
• Vakaros – Providing advanced performance instrumentation and analytics.
• GiPSy Buoy – Supporting GPS tracking and on-water data visualization.

Follow the Action

Stay up to date with daily coverage, technical features, and behind-the-scenes stories from Lake Garda:
📍 Instagram: @foilingsumoth
🌐 Website: www.sumoth.org

Header image credit: Alessio Tamborini / We Are Foiling Media