by InTrieste
A new high-performance sailing vessel developed by the Audace Sailing Team of the University of Trieste (UniTS) was launched this week at the Yacht Club Adriaco. The vessel, named BAI – Flax Bandit, will make its competitive debut on June 16 at the SuMoth Challenge in Malcesine, an international regatta for student-designed foiling moths.
The name playfully references Red Bandit, a well-known German racing yacht, while “Flax” highlights the environmentally conscious materials used in the boat’s construction. Flax fibers form the primary component of the hull, a signature material of the Audace team’s sustainable fleet. The team also incorporates resin made in part from cashew-derived compounds, representing a 30% bio-based alternative to traditional composites.
The project is supported by BAI, the team’s main sponsor.
A notable innovation on Flax Bandit is the use of basalt fiber skins to reinforce the interior structure of the hull and deck, aiming to improve strength and overall performance. The sail, redesigned for greater efficiency, continues the team’s tradition of using upcycled materials from discarded sails.
The boat’s most advanced elements are its foils—the submerged wings that lift the hull above water at speed. Due to the intense stresses they must endure, the foils are constructed from carbon fiber. However, in an effort to reduce environmental impact, the team has layered the carbon with flax fiber wherever possible.
The launch of Flax Bandit underscores a growing trend in competitive sailing toward innovation in both speed and sustainability, driven in this case by a new generation of student engineers and designers.
