After four months and more than 1,500 nautical miles of sailing, including multiple races, MiniLab reports encouraging results from its full-scale recyclable thermoplastic composite (TPC) hydrofoils, the first of their kind in offshore racing.
Developed in partnership with ComposiTIC and produced by Avel Robotics, the foils use advanced materials from Diab and Victrex. Real-time performance data is collected via onboard sensors from Pixel sur Mer.
"No structural weaknesses have been noted, only signs of good operation," says Adrien Marchandise, founder of MiniLab. "Integration into the boat's composite foil wells has been smooth and is performing as expected."
Marchandise recently secured his first top-five finish using the TPC foils during the Marie-Agnes Peron Trophy, a demanding 220-nautical-mile, 24-hour sprint race around southern Brittany. "This short, intense race has been another ideal opportunity to put our foils to the test in real conditions," he adds.
MiniLab now plans to disassemble and inspect the TPC foils for further analysis, while continuing lab testing and preparing for upcoming competitions. The ultimate test for the foils will be the 7,500-kilometre Mini Transat race, a solo Atlantic crossing that began on September 21, 2025. MiniLab is actively welcoming new sponsors to join its mission of sustainable innovation in offshore racing.
Source: www.linkedin.com/company/opensealabs
