"I sailed on the sailboat of the future": Matthieu ROBERT, President and Founder of Madintec

⛵️ Last week, I had the chance to experience a new kind of sailing while delivering the #MODx70 (MODX Catamarans) to the International Multihull Show in La Grande-Motte.
And I weigh my words carefully: this was a real dive into what marine mobility could look like tomorrow.
And let’s be honest—the design is stunning! ✨

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What struck me the most? Three major innovations:

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1️⃣ Revolutionary Inflatable Wings (Aeroforce)
Forget traditional sails!
The MODx70 is powered by two thick-profile inflatable wings, equipped with flaps and inspired by America’s Cup technologies (a nod to the wing on Dogzilla/USA17 for the insiders 😉—hi Jean-Marc Normant!).
The performance is remarkable: 1.7x better efficiency compared to a conventional rig, confirmed even in light wind during the delivery.
Key advantages: the wings can be reefed (“arisables”) and even fully lowered.

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💡 Could this be the future of offshore sailing ?
The concept is aimed at leisure cruising and eco-friendly maritime transport—but why not step out of SailGP and into offshore racing ?
After a decade focused on foils in the Vendée Globe, we could imagine this kind of soft, thick “sailing engine” inspiring new, more powerful designs—even contributing to flight stability, a bit like a wingfoil.
Maybe the innovation of tomorrow won’t be limited to what’s under the hull—but also what’s happening above deck.

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2️⃣ Full Automation
Imagine this: wings that inflate automatically (think of a high-tech inflatable castle!), built on a drop stitch structure like a paddleboard, kept under pressure by an electronic system.
No ropes, no sheets.
The wings rotate on motorized rotating masts, electronically controlled for optimal aerodynamic performance.

🔍 The dashboard? Minimalistic and elegant: a helm wheel, a single power lever (managing wing and flap incidence), and controls to raise, reduce or lower the wings.
The goal is clear: make high-performance sailing accessible, with effortless control—especially for future owners of power cats who want sailing… without worrying about maneuvering.

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And of course, I have to mention our autopilot from Madintec: this delivery once again confirmed how much it enhances safety—particularly in challenging sea conditions on a pleasure craft.
The #MADBrain handled both course stability and the automatic adjustment of the wings.
Absolute comfort.

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3️⃣ Total Energy Autonomy
Not a drop of fossil fuel on board—yet every comfort: air conditioning, hot water, stove, oven…
A far cry from stripped-down racing boats—it was a real pleasure.
How is this possible?
• ~15kW of solar power
• + hydrogeneration from electric motors (which slow the boat by about 1 knot but generate 1 to 3 kWh at speeds starting from 6 knots)
📈 The result: total energy independence, without ever needing to plug in at port.
Honestly… I dream of a car that could do the same! 😉
Naturally, this kind of power management raises fascinating questions about route optimization and hybrid propulsion strategies.

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✨ This MODx70 project is an incredible demonstration of innovation. A huge well done to the visionary teams behind this concept, including. Franck David ( OCEAN DEVELOPPEMENT ) , Jean Guyon , Jean-Marc NormantMartin Gaveriaux, raphael lambot for their endurance and risk-taking.

🏆 Chez Madintecwe're extremely proud to have played our part in developing all the electronics and software that make this automation possible. Congratulations to our crack team: Benoît PIQUEMAL , Mathilde Tréhin , Pia Mathias and Louis Emard for this new challenge!

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This boat opens up exciting perspectives for the future of sailing. What do you think?