Bleeding edge of sailing technology

After completing the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, professional offshore sailor, Sam Goodchild, gave Yachting World an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Banque Populaire XI, the incredible 100-foot foiling trimaran:

Banque Populaire XI isn’t just any boat; it’s a floating testament to the bleeding edge of sailing technology, designed for record-breaking speeds and gruelling ocean races. Sam Goodchild, fresh from the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race with the Banque Populaire team, offers a unique perspective on what it’s truly like to sail one of these magnificent foiling multihulls.

From the central cockpit, Goodchild highlights the surprising simplicity of the control station, dominated by handles that manage an extensive hydraulic system. Unlike traditional yachts and in keeping with the developments we’te seeing in top level foilers like the Ultimes there are remarkably few ropes here, as much of the power is routed through hydraulics. – Full report