The Flyte Story

Flyte began with a simple goal: bring foiling to club sailors in a light, safe, two-person boat.

As a software engineer who loves speed but values safety, the idea was obvious: combine modern sensors and computing with perfected carbon and titanium boatbuilding. The short version: my wife wanted to join me in club regattas, but my foiling A-Cat was built for one. I wanted an A-Cat for two. There was no lightweight two-person foiler that club-level sailors could handle and still win multi-class races.

Early mockup of a two-person foiling catamaran based on an A-Class hull — Flyte started with the idea of an A-Cat for two: a lightweight two-person performance foiler.

Why build another catamaran?

Because there wasn't a lightweight foiler for two that club sailors could handle and still win multi-class races. That gap defined Flyte's mission.

From first rides to foiling obsession

It started with outgrowing a slow school dinghy. A Nacra 16 followed. A fast, fun, and good to learn two-person cat. As foiling spread, a Flying Phantom training showed the thrill and the trade-offs. Heavy, demanding, and too risky for typical club sessions. A foiling Whisper came next. Great as a family foiler with T-foils and low spray, but it struggled upwind and downwind in club yardstick racing.

Foiling A-Class sealed the direction: ultra light, stiff, and fast. But it's a solo boat, and the joy of sharing speed with family and friends was missing.

Two-person foiling, without the compromises

The search went through iFLY, foiling Viper, Nacra 15, Nacra 17, and Nacra 20 FCS. Great platforms, but each had blockers: availability, true two-person design, Olympic skill requirements, or too much weight. Experience from the A-Class was clear: foil ventilation, upwind foiling, asymmetric rudder rake, and mast rotation should be assisted. Electronics can trim rake during tacks or reduce foil rake as speed builds. Safer and faster.

The team and the build

Flyte Sailing Innovations brought software and mechatronics together with Exploder, Bryt, D3 Applied Technologies & Redondo Studio, ST2, and Kuba Surowiec (A-Class world champion). After a year of mechatronics work the design was set. Another year building on A-Class, Moth, and America's Cup know-how led to testing in early 2025 and a solid season. Production starts in 2026.

Design goals

Club-level accessibility for two. Adrenaline with safety

Proven tech and inspiration from A-Class and F18

Innovations inspired by world-class racing. Usable by non-pros

Ultra-light for easy handling and lower injury risk

Z-foils for self-leveling, strong upwind, and easy handling on and off the water

Clean aero: lines under the tramp, integrated traveler, performance-first design

Reliable sensors for accurate VMG with a rotating mast

Sunlight-readable displays that don't get in the way

Autopilot for foil and rudder rake. Helpful sailing cues

Low pressure point rig (decksweeper jib) for better foiling leverage

All-round wind performance: gennaker for ~3-12 kn, no gennaker needed above ~10 kn

Flyte's purpose is simple: share foiling speed and keep it within reach.