Autopilot Rake Control
Foil and rudder angle automation for performant, easier and safer sailing
Flyte's autopilot rake control system analyzes wind, speed, attitude, point of sail, ride-height, and mast rotation in real time to adjust foil and rudder angles. It optimizes lift and drag throughout the sail and assists with maneuvers like tacking and gybing. It is designed to support club-level sailors by automating key flight control tasks. It also allows adjustments pro-level sailors wanted but could not do before.
What it does
- Before foiling: minimizes drag to improve acceleration toward takeoff speed.
- During takeoff: maximizes lift to quickly pop onto foils, assisting the sailors and optimizing acceleration.
- While foiling: adjusts rake for constant lift to maintain stable flight and prevent ventilation or losing grip (lift grows rapidly with speed, so rake must be trimmed to manage ride height).
- Landing: on command, assists with controlled descent when approaching shore or obstacles.
- Tacking/gybing: auto detects maneuvers and automates asymmetrical rake adjustments for efficient upwind foiling.
- Flight assistance: reacts to gusts and lulls by adjusting rake to stabilize lift.
- Safety: can be set to prevent foiling in overly strong winds or when conditions advise against it.
Control and customization
- Manual overrides: preemptive inputs (e.g., "gust in 5 seconds") via remote control.
- Configurable profiles: auto, safety, cruising, docking, active, manual or user-defined.
- Shareable setups: load profiles from experienced sailors to replicate tuning and accelerate learning.
Why it matters
- Reduces workload for the helm, especially during transitions and gusts.
- Improves safety by reducing risk of ventilation, crash landings, or unstable foiling.
- Increases performance and enables smoother sailing for mixed-experience crews.
- Makes high-performance foiling accessible to club sailors without elite-level skill.
Technical note
Autopilot systems have only recently appeared in top circuits like SailGP and the America's Cup on boats weighing several tons. Flyte's complete system weighs about 6 kg including displays, computer, cables, actuators, and battery. It brings advanced autopilot features to 18-foot catamarans.