Assisted Foiling with Galeon by Tony Castro

By Tony Castro
Founder & CEO, Tony Castro Yachts

The longstanding collaboration between Tony Castro Yacht Design and GALEON Yachts will soon result in the announcement of a significant joint development.

Over the past few years, we have been working closely to develop pioneering new technology in the form of “Assisted Foiling” for their powerboats. To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first application of such technology on production boats of this kind—further reinforcing both our reputation, and that of the GALEON brand, as leaders in innovation and forward-thinking design.

WHAT IS ASSISTED FOILING?

Assisted foiling is a method of partially lifting the boat out of the water through the use of underwater foils. By reducing hull drag, this allows the vessel to achieve greater efficiency and improved performance.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

At this stage, the manufacturing method has not yet been finalised, and it would therefore be premature to provide a definitive cost. However, the application of this technology could ultimately allow for the use of smaller, more economical engines while achieving speeds comparable to those typically associated with larger power units.

CAN IT BE RETROFITTED?

In the immediate future, retrofitting would be challenging without additional modifications to the vessel. This is something that may evolve as the technology develops further.

HOW DOES IT OPPERATE?

The system operates passively, without any need for user input. In other words, the helmsman does not need to take any action. The foils generate lift automatically and also contribute to improved seakeeping, with a natural tendency to counteract motion such as rolling.

IS IT SAFE?

Assisted foiling is not “flying,” and the anticipated speed gains are expected to remain within reasonable limits—helping to avoid hazardous situations in the event of rapid deceleration. While fully foiling vessels can achieve dramatic increases in speed, they also carry inherent risks, such as sudden loss of lift and abrupt stopping—something well understood in high-performance sailing circles.

By contrast, assisted foiling focuses on enhancing hydrodynamic efficiency in a controlled and practical way. It enables improved performance and efficiency without introducing the same level of risk.

By supporting this development, Galeon continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation, technology, and creative thinking. It is a partnership that reflects a shared ambition to push the boundaries of what is possible in modern yacht design.