The Shift to Auto-Optimisation
The traditional method of designing hydrofoils involved human shapers making best-guess prototypes and testing them on the water. In 2025, this process has shifted toward "Auto-Optimisation," a method utilized by brands like Starboard Foils that integrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with generative AI algorithms.
This technology runs thousands of virtual simulations to create organic, undulating front wing profiles that a human designer might never conceive. The process, branded as "7000X Auto-Optimisation," was developed by Starboard's team of Martin Fischer, Charles Dhainaut, and Mathieu Durand.
Starting from a base design and desired performance parameters, the computer iterates through CFD calculations, refining wing shapes through thousands of loops. What would take decades using traditional prototyping methods now happens in computational cycles.
Performance Metrics
According to R&D notes, these AI-generated shapes optimize the lift-to-drag ratio by 12% to 15% compared to manually designed high-aspect wings. The undulating leading edges are designed to delay cavitation at speeds exceeding 25 knots.
For a rider weighing 70 to 90 kg, this translates to an 18% improvement in low-end pump efficiency in marginal 8 to 12-knot conditions.
The Human vs. AI Curve
Leading Edge Comparison
The undulating edge disrupts laminar flow separation, maintaining lift at higher angles of attack.
Cost and Scalability
The limitation of this technology is the high compute cost required for the prototyping phase, which initially raised retail prices by roughly 20%. However, as the database of successful foil profiles grows, costs are projected to stabilize by 2026.
The MF Downwind Proof
The first major validation of AI-designed foils came at the Crozon Downwind Foil Festival, where Starboard's MF (Downwind) wings took first and second place. These wings were among the earliest to emerge from the 7000X process.
The SLX Racing series, another flagship product line, showcases AI optimization with sizes ranging from 865cm² down to 335cm². Starboard is developing 'monobloc' foils that integrate the front wing, tail wing, and fuselage into a single unified structure, eliminating connection points that create drag.
Human Designer's Verdict
Starboard founder and chief designer Tiesda You expressed initial skepticism but was "blown away" by the performance, describing the optimization as a "leap" in design. Riders consistently report significant speed and stability improvements over manually shaped equivalents.
Sources & Further Reading
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