Palm Beach XI takes flight
by Palm Beach Motor Yachts 21 Feb 21:59 PST
Palm Beach XI © Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Palm Beach XI successfully validated her radical new C-foil configuration, reaching 29 knots of boat speed in a beautiful 22-knot nor'easter on the iconic Sydney Harbour. The 100-foot Supermaxi lifted 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.
Tacking off Shark Island with the port C-foil deployed, Palm Beach XI accelerated effortlessly toward the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House before lifting visibly at speed, transitioning from displacement to dynamic efficiency in flat-water conditions. What began as an ambitious engineering concept is now a reality on the water: controlled, stable, and fast.
Re-Engineering a Racing Icon
Under the leadership of Palm Beach Motor Yachts CEO and founder Mark Richards, 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.
"It was a huge effort just to make the start line of the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart, and even then, we weren't quite ready," said Richards. "The main outcome of the race was that we confirmed Palm Beach XI's structural integrity in tough conditions. Seeing Palm Beach XI foil this week with such control, ease, and stability validates the decision we've made to give this historic Supermaxi a new lease on life as we prepare for the Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race in June."
Pushing Beyond the Conventional
Supporting this effort is a world-class team of collaborators, including renowned designer Juan Kouyoumdjian of Juan K Naval Architects and McConaghy Boats, working alongside the Palm Beach XI engineering and sailing team to push the boundaries of Supermaxi performance.
The new C-foils are engineered to generate dynamic lift, reduce drag, increase effective righting moment, and unlock enhanced reaching and downwind performance, a bold integration rarely attempted at this scale.
Performance, Experienced Firsthand
Six American Palm Beach Motor Yachts owners visiting Australia were on board to witness the milestone firsthand, gaining a direct view into the company's uncompromising pursuit of technology and performance.
The experience offered insight into the discipline and engineering mindset that shape the motor yachts they own, where performance is not theoretical, but demonstrated in real offshore conditions.
A Living Platform for Innovation, Performance and Brand Leadership
Palm Beach XI serves as a living platform where innovation advances through bold thinking and disciplined execution, performance is proven at the highest levels of offshore competition, and the Palm Beach Motor Yachts brand is showcased on the world stage. What is proven under pressure defines the hydrodynamic efficiency, structural integrity, and engineering precision that underpin every Palm Beach motor yacht.
With the performance validated and vision realized, Palm Beach XI now turns its focus towards the Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race, where she will compete for the first time race-ready with all of her modifications complete.