Press release
Products
June 2, 2016

Evonik Meets SpeedFoiler™: Sailing in new dimensions

The first SpeedFoiler™ catamaran will be built in Germany. Using innovative technology and high quality materials from Evonik, TeamGaebler plans to build the fastest all-round 2-person serial sailboat in the world. A racing series is also planned.

Bremen/Essen, 2nd of June 2016.
The German-Danish TeamGaebler and the specialty chemicals company Evonik from Essen have joined forces to bring high-tech sailing to a new level. "Our SpeedFoiler™ is an ultra-lightweight, foiling catamaran that will achieve exceptional performance never before seen in our sport," announced Olympic medalist Roland Gaebler. The latest carbon fiber and composite technology make it possible to fly over the water. The new boat class, which is sailed by two persons in the trapeze, is not only aimed at professionals. Ambitious amateurs can also use the SpeedFoiler™ to compete in open regattas. The first prototype of the 7.62-meter-long SpeedFoiler™ is currently in the planning stage and will be built in the summer.

German sailing and technological know-how come together
The collaboration between Roland and Nahid Gaebler, the most successful mixed sailing team, and Evonik, one of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, is sure to bring great results. "Evonik is an expert when it comes to lightweight solutions and thus an absolute dream partner for us," said Roland Gaebler, thrilled with the announcement. Thanks to the extremely lightweight materials and the revolutionary design of the SpeedFoiler™, it will be possible to start races from 1 knot on. The upper wind limit will be around 30 knots.
"We can sail in all conditions and start reliably on time. In this way the new class will offer something unique for live TV broadcasts and worldwide streaming on the Internet," emphasized Roland Gaebler.
The specialty chemicals company Evonik from Essen offers a broad portfolio of composite and raw materials. These are, for example, sold under the brand names VESTAMIN®, VESTANAT®, NANOPOX® and ROHACELL® and such composite applications can be processed in parts of the fiber, in the plastic matrix and the foam core. Furthermore, the company has the necessary raw materials as well as the extensive processing and process know-how. "For us, the SpeedFoiler™ is an excellent project to illustrate our expertise as a solutions provider for composites and it shows how the results can be transferred to other industries," said Dr. Hans Görlitzer, head of Business Development in the Evonik Crosslinkers Business Line.

The SpeedFoiler™ belongs to the new generation of foiling catamarans. The extreme light weight and the innovative design of the sails, hull and attachments allow these boats to fly over the water. "This is a fantastic experience and makes it extremely fun. And on top on that, you have a lot of spectacular pictures, and excited spectators and journalists all over the world," said the ten-time World Champion Roland Gaebler. These boats demand a high level of athletic and artistic abilities from the sailing teams.
The SpeedFoiler™ was designed for the FoilingWorldCup™ and the Little Cup and has the dimensions of a C-class multihull: The length is 7.62 m, and the width is 4.26 m. The mast height is 12 m. The sail area ranges from 90 square meters (light wind) to 28 square meters (strong wind). Martin Fischer, an eminently respected multihull and hydrofoil designer, worked on the project.

Race on four continents
To start with, Roland and Nahid Gaebler will use this boat to participate in some established regattas. Later, their own racing series is planned, the FoilingWorldCup™. "Many world-class sailors have already expressed their interest in this new one-design class and the FoilingWorldCup™ and are just waiting to get going," Nahid Gaebler said.

The FoilingWorldCup™ is a race of the nations with the best sailors and most innovative boats in the world. It is a new, professional sailboat racing series with 10 tour stops in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America. The one-design boats for the Foiling World Cup will be provided by the organizer.

TeamGaebler will also participate with the SpeedFoiler™ at Little Cup and other legendary endurance races. In addition, a European Cup is also planned.

Roland & Nahid Gäbler

www.teamgaebler.de
Straßburger Str. 32
D-28211 Bremen
Phone: +49-172-4543074
Email: teamgaebler@gmail.com
www.speedfoiler.com
www.foilingworldcup.com
Skype: r.gaebler

Media Contact TeamGaebler:

Behrend Kommunikation
Till Behrend
Baumkamp 69
D-22299 Hamburg
Phone +49 151 32317721
Email: behrend@behrendkommunikation.com

Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH

Carolin Kather
Paul-Baumann-Str. 1
45772 Marl
Phone: +49 2365 49 -9011
carolin.kather@evonik.com
www.evonik.com/speedfoiler