Azimut Yachts selects Hull Vane foiling solution

In June this year, Azimut Yachts, the world’s biggest yacht builder, signalled a new trend in hull design with the launch of its new 44-metre Azimut Grande. The new production superyacht features Hull Vane foil technology—a first for Hull Vane, a Dutch offshoot of Van Oossanen Naval Architects that was founded to produce and market its eponymous product.

A Hull Vane is a fixed foiling system placed at the stern of a vessel. It works, in part, by using a foil that provides lift at the stern, which negates the effects of the stern wake while boosting forward thrust. The foil reduces hydrodynamic drag and improves onboard comfort by decreasing pitch and roll. The Azimut Grande 44M’s Hull Vane is made from carbon fibre, reducing the component's weight from 1,500kg to just 400kg.

How the forces on a Hull Vane work; courtesy Hull Vane

The hull of the 44M features dual modes, combining a fast-displacement hull shape at the bow with a semi-planing hull at the stern. Hull Vane claims that its signature product reduces noise levels, partly due to the lower propeller and engine loads required as a result of its energy-saving capabilities.

To date, the largest yacht that Hull Vane lists as a reference is a 45-metre Hakvoort. Most of the vessels that Hull Vane has worked on have been one-off custom projects. The Azimut Grande 44M marks the first time that such a large production superyacht will feature foiling technology, and it may well be the first time that a major production builder has opted for it.