Navigating Challenges, Staying the Course

Recent weeks have been marked by academic commitments and seasonal breaks, including the Chalmers exam period and the Easter holiday. These have slightly slowed down attendance and workflow. Nonetheless, we remain optimistic. While some tasks have shifted from our ideal timeline, we are confident we’ll have ample time to complete and test the new boat before the competition.

Production is now fully underway. We’ve started manufacturing all parts—some internally in our own workshops, and others through trusted external manufacturers. Our work in the composites lab is progressing, especially with the gantry, although lab space and availability continue to pose challenges due to high demand from other projects.

Fortunately, other in-house workshops are more readily available, allowing us to maintain momentum and meet key deadlines for most components.

Smart Design, Sustainable Focus

Our design philosophy for this year centers on simplicity, efficiency, and sustainability. The main foil, a critical component of performance, has been meticulously planned and is now in production. We’ve aimed to design most parts for ease of manufacture using available in-house tools. For more complex processes requiring higher precision, such as the foil, we’re employing CNC milling and water cutting.

These techniques enhance both speed and precision, but have also introduced new challenges—especially when the in-house CNC mill was unavailable at a critical juncture. Thankfully, after connecting with several local partners, we secured an external milling solution just in time. Had this effort not succeeded, we would have had to fall back on manual tooling, causing significant delays.

Sustainability has been another guiding principle in our approach. Initially, the gantry was to be built using recycled hockey sticks—a creative reuse of carbon fiber. However, time constraints in the composites lab required a pivot. We’ve opted to upgrade and reuse the existing gantry instead, streamlining production and avoiding the most labor-intensive steps. That said, if time and lab access permit, the original sustainable gantry design may still be revisited later in the process.

Milestones and Momentum

Despite a few setbacks, we’ve marked important achievements. We hosted two successful sponsor events with Stena and Seldén, where we showcased Saga—our current boat—and presented updates on our project’s progress and vision. These events not only strengthened partnerships but also expanded awareness of our mission.

One of the most pivotal moments this year has been securing a new sponsor: Bulten AB. Their support, through both funding and custom-machined parts for the foil and control system, has played a critical role in the viability of our 2025 build. The foil design, at times, seemed nearly impossible to realize, and Bulten AB’s contribution turned a major challenge into a successful milestone. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership.

What’s Next: From Build to Water

Looking ahead, the focus is clear: complete all component manufacturing and begin rigorous testing. This phase is essential—not just to validate performance, but to identify and correct issues that only emerge under real-world conditions. With new parts, particularly the foil and control system, altering the dynamics of the boat, early testing is crucial.

Equally important is familiarization. Our team will need time on the water to practice and adjust to the new setup. Changes in weight and handling demand adaptation, and our performance at FSMC 2025 will depend not just on our engineering, but on how well we’ve learned to sail this year’s design.

Stay tuned for more updates as we push forward—refining, testing, and preparing to take on FSMC 2025 with innovation, resilience, and passion.