To fairly rate a foiling supermaxi

Formerly Wild Oats XI, one of the world’s most celebrated ocean-racing yachts will race under new ownership as Palm Beach XI in the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race. While the event is excited to have the Australian 100-footer competing, the yacht’s new configuration is another matter.

The ORR handicap system, which is used for the race, must now fairly rate a foiling supermaxi.

Recent testing of her radical new C-foil configuration had the yacht lifting cleanly off the water with two metres of bow rise while dramatically reducing her wetted surface area — a defining moment in the realization of the team’s bold and exciting vision becoming a reality.

What began as an ambitious engineering concept is now a reality on the water: controlled, stable, and fast. The program set out not just to upgrade the nine-time Rolex Sydney Hobart winner, but to fundamentally re-engineer her for a complete rebirth and a new era of offshore ocean racing.

Supporting this effort was designer Juan Kouyoumdjian of Juan K Naval Architects and McConaghy Boats which helped develop the new C-foils engineered to generate dynamic lift, reduce drag, increase effective righting moment, and unlock enhanced reaching and downwind performance.

The Newport Bermuda Race will be the first time for Palm Beach XI to compete in her new configuration.

Details: https://bermudarace.com/

Held biennially, the 54th Newport Bermuda Race in 2026 will be its 120th anniversary and also the 100th anniversary of the Cruising Club of America’s partnership with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in co-organizing the 636 nm course.