Three years after hoisting its first turbovoils, the Marfret Niolon has taken a new step: last February in Antwerp, it was fitted with VentoFoils®, the new generation of rigid wings. Wider and more robust, they enable greater emissions reduction. An innovation born from a partnership between Marfret, Econowind, the routing company Syrocco, and offshore racing sailor Xavier Macaire. A winning alliance!
The win-win partnership between Marfret and the Dutch company Econowind on the use of wind-assisted propulsion is experiencing new developments: the Marfret Niolon, operating on the multipurpose ‘MPP’ line between Northern Europe, French Guiana, and the Caribbean, serves as a floating laboratory. Exposed to trade winds and easterly winds, it offers ideal conditions for real-world testing of the sail-assisted propulsion system.
In February, Marfret replaced the first-generation Ventifoils® with the new rigid VentoFoils®. “We are taking a new step, with significantly improved performance, since the operating ranges are broader, and the new wings now withstand wind thrusts from 22 knots to 30 knots,” says Guillaume Vidil, Managing Director of Marfret. These new rigid sails represent a decisive advance in energy performance. Thanks to their redesigned and streamlined design, the VentoFoils® deliver 10% more pulling power than the previous version, a significant reduction in fuel consumption, and simplified maintenance with fewer components. Made from aerodynamically optimized aluminum and integrated into standard 40-foot containers, the sails can be easily deployed and retracted with minimal operational impact. Now, one more powerful and solid turbovoil is housed in a single container instead of two in the previous version. Installed portside, at the bow, and midship, they have no impact on deck cargo handling operations.
Wind propulsion, a credible lever for decarbonization
Their positioning was meticulously studied and analyzed by navigator Xavier Macaire, winner of the Niji40 and recognized expert in aerodynamic optimizations.
“Xavier’s expertise allows us to seek the last percentage gains, to adapt trajectories, and to better understand the dynamic response of the sails depending on load, swell, or weather,” explains Guillaume Vidil. Xavier Macaire was able to work in collaboration with Syroco, a routing company founded by Alex Caizergues, world record holder in kitesurfing, who designed a digital twin of the Marfret Niolon, then modeled the new wings to maximize their energy efficiency. Another major advantage, Syroco sends a notification to the bridge during navigation to indicate the optimal time to deploy the VentoFoils®, while ensuring optimized routing to take advantage of prevailing winds and furl the turbovoils as often as possible.
This dialogue between sailor and shipowner illustrates the convergence between innovations from offshore racing and commercial shipping, two worlds now united by common goals: sobriety, reliability, and intelligent routing. Like Yves Parlier (Beyond the Sea), Michel Desjoyeaux (Wisamo), and François Gabart (Mer & Concept), sailors today are becoming the architects of industrial sailing. Sails on a merchant vessel, once a topic for smiles a few years ago, are now taken very seriously. The benefits: reduced fuel consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and savings. “Wind is a free, clean, and inexhaustible energy source. The return of sails in merchant shipping is not a nostalgic nod to the past, but a strategic lever for the future,” concludes Guillaume Vidil.