…Driven by Challenge, Delivering Real-World Impact
The SuMoth Challenge is an international student competition that brings together teams from universities and technical institutes to design, build, and sail high-performance foiling Moth-class boats.
⚙️ Innovation drives every aspect of the Challenge. Each team creates its own boat design from concept to launch, testing new ideas in aerodynamics, materials, and control systems. 🌿 Sustainability is central: teams apply eco-efficient materials, circular production methods, and lifecycle analysis to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance. 🎓 Education lies at the heart of the Challenge — students learn through hands-on experience, transforming theory from lectures and labs into practical, measurable results.
Boats are evaluated not just on speed but also on engineering quality, creativity, and responsible design choices. Teams learn to balance performance with efficiency and environmental responsibility, preparing them to be engineers who can innovate responsibly.
More than a competition, SuMoth is a collaborative platform for applied research, where students validate technologies, share knowledge, and gain the practical skills needed for a more sustainable marine industry. For students, it is a chance to turn ideas into tangible innovation; for partners, it is an opportunity to support the next generation of engineers driving change.
The SuMoth Challenge exists to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application, offering students a context where engineering decisions have tangible consequences.
⚡ Innovation and applied engineering are not treated as abstract goals, but as iterative processes of experimentation, testing, and refinement. Teams confront real constraints — performance, materials, sustainability, and manufacturability — and learn how to navigate trade-offs responsibly.
🤝 Collaboration and community underpin the entire ecosystem.
Student teams lead the design, build, and testing of their boats.
Faculty mentors and industry advisors provide guidance while preserving student autonomy.
An independent jury and technical committee evaluates projects across innovation, sustainability, and performance.
Local clubs and hosts provide infrastructure and on-water support.
This network ensures that SuMoth remains educational, inclusive, and collaborative, creating an environment where students learn not only from success, but also from experimentation and failure.
The SuMoth Challenge is managed and executed by SuMA+, the SuMoth Association. Together with sensible sponsors like 11th Hour Racing, academic institutions, mentors, industry partners, technical experts, and supporters we can call friends, the Challenge has been alive and growing since 2018.
👥 Inclusion is a core principle of the Challenge. Teams are encouraged to bring together students from different disciplines, backgrounds, and levels of experience, fostering diverse perspectives within each project.
🌍 Global impact is an underlying objective. By connecting universities, technical institutes, and partners across countries, the Challenge encourages knowledge sharing and the adoption of sustainable and inclusive engineering practices beyond the event itself.
For students, it is an opportunity to transform knowledge into experience.
For academia and partners, it is a platform to support meaningful innovation with long-term relevance.
Ultimately, SuMoth aims to contribute — in a concrete and practical way — to a better, more responsible approach to engineering and design.
The SuMoth Challenge follows a structured process that reflects a real engineering project lifecycle.
🏁 Competition and performance are integrated across three main phases:
Design & Concept – teams define objectives, materials, and production strategies, embedding 🌿 sustainability and ⚙️ innovation from the outset.
Build & Testing – designs are validated through construction, experimentation, and performance testing.
On-Water Evaluation & Racing – boats are assessed through sailing and racing, with scoring combining performance, engineering quality, and sustainability criteria.
Throughout the process, students are encouraged to document decisions, reflect on trade-offs, and share insights, reinforcing SuMoth’s role as both a competition and an academia-applied research platform.
The SuMoth Challenge is proudly supported by 11th Hour Racing, a leading force in advancing sustainability through sport and innovation. Their commitment to protecting our oceans fuels everything we do.
We invite forward-thinking brands and organizations to join us as partners — supporting education, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
Together, we can change the course of sailing.
Support the next generation of naval designers.
Universities and educational organizations play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable sailing. By joining the SuMoth Challenge, your institution will empower students, drive research, and connect with a global network of innovators.
Partner with us to inspire the next generation of engineers and sailors.
Every year, talented students from around the world take on the SuMoth Challenge — designing and building innovative foiling boats with sustainability at their core. It’s a unique opportunity to learn, compete, and create real impact in the marine industry.
Ready to take on the challenge? Be part of the next edition and bring your ideas to life.
Join through your university or start your own team.
