The Boat

1001VELA CUP

The EcoSail Karlsruhe team is proud to present our innovative sailing boat, crafted specifically for the 1001VELA Cup—an international competition that challenges universities to design and build sustainable, high-performance sailboats. Our boat, designed and built by a dedicated team of students, stands out for its commitment to sustainability, with over 70% of its materials sourced from natural or recycled resources. This aligns with our mission to push forward eco-friendly practices in marine design.

At the 16th edition of the 1001VELA Cup Trophy in 2023, our team joined 13 other university teams on the Gulf of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. Each team showcased unique approaches to sustainable design under the guiding principles of „Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.“
Our boat’s performance in both durability and speed was put to the test during the three-day regatta, where it achieved impressive results, including:

  • 3rd place in the Best Design Award
  • 4th place overall in the 1001VELA Cup Trophy
  • 1st and 2nd place in the Paolo Padova Cup Trophy, showing outstanding resilience and racing capabilities

Our participation in the 1001VELA Cup goes beyond competition; it’s a testament to what’s possible when innovation meets sustainability. We’re excited to continue developing eco-friendly solutions that set new standards for the future of sailing.

SuMoth Foiling Boat

As part of our commitment to sustainable innovation, the EcoSail Karlsruhe team is currently developing a cutting-edge hydrofoil sailboat to compete in the SuMoth Challenge 2025. This international competition invites university teams to design and build high-performance foiling sailboats using sustainable and cost-effective materials. Our mission is to push the boundaries of green engineering, crafting a boat that is as fast and durable as it is environmentally responsible.

Our SuMoth hydrofoil will be constructed with natural and recycled materials, following the 3R principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We are incorporating materials such as bio-based resins, flax fibers, and recycled core components, all carefully chosen to minimize environmental impact while maximizing performance. This aligns with the SuMoth Challenge’s vision to drive sustainability in marine design by reducing reliance on carbon fiber and synthetic components.

The SuMoth Challenge is held during the prestigious Foiling Week event in Italy, offering us a unique platform to showcase our sustainable engineering solutions to global leaders in hydrofoil technology. 

We’re excited to take on this challenge in the competitive world of foiling sailboats. Keep following our journey as we work towards the SuMoth Challenge 2025!