Mackay Boats is pleased to announce that development and production planning is now underway for a completely new Mackay Bieker Moth main foil package, targeted for delivery ahead of the 2026 Moth World Championship. Existing Mackay Bieker owners can now register their interest and secure one of the first production sets.
As one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of high-performance sailing foils, Mackay Boats continues to invest heavily in research, engineering and advanced composite manufacturing to ensure Mackay Bieker sailors have access to the latest performance developments.
The Objective: Less Drag, More Speed
The development brief for the new foil package was simple: reduce drag while maintaining the structural integrity required for modern Moth racing.
The new package consists of:
- MV-V6 Main Vertical (450mm steel)
- MH-V11 Horizontal (950mm steel) for light to medium conditions
- MH-V12 Horizontal (950mm steel for medium to heavy conditions
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis comparing the existing foil package with the new design indicates lower drag and improved overall efficiency, resulting in a faster package.
CFD Analysis of the New Mains Foil Package v's Existing Package: It's Hot!
A Completely Re-Engineered Connection
One of the most significant changes is the redesign of the vertical-to-horizontal connection. By incorporating titanium into the laminate structure of the horizontal foil, the vertical foot is relocated into the horizontal within a much smaller volume. This has enabled:
- A smaller bulb profile
- Reduced overall surface area
- The junction positioned further aft in the horizontal
- Lower overall hydrodynamic drag through the connection area
At the same time, the vertical foil has been redesigned using higher-grade steel, allowing a reduction in foil area while maintaining the stiffness and strength required for elite-level racing.
Two New Horizontal Options
Because the new junction geometry is fundamentally different, the new foils are not backward compatible with previous foil generations. To ensure sailors can choose a setup suited to their preferred conditions, two new horizontal designs have been developed:
MH-V11
A light to medium-air horizontal developed from the characteristics that made the previous MH-V5 popular.
MH-V12
A medium to heavy-air horizontal developed from the proven characteristics of the previous MH-V10.
Together with the MV-V6 vertical, they form a new integrated foil platform optimised around lower drag and greater efficiency.
Moving from Design to Production
While on-water validation will form part of the programme, the primary focus of the current development phase is manufacturing verification. The new connection system is significantly more complex to build than previous generations and extensive testing will be undertaken to validate the production process.
This includes:
- Manufacturing process validation
- Structural verification
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- On-water evaluation following initial production
Limited Availability for the First Production Run
The high-grade steel specified for the MV-V6 vertical is difficult to source and current material availability limits the initial production run. Only 15 foil sets will be available in the first batch.
These will be allocated on a first-confirmed, first-served basis to customers who secure their order with a deposit.
Reserve Your Set for the 2026 Moth World Championship
Development is underway, materials have been secured, and production planning has commenced. For Mackay Bieker owners looking to race with the latest foil technology at the 2026 Moth World Championship, make sure to secure a place in the first production run.