Caponnetto Hueber attended the Wind Propulsion Conference 2026 in London, organized by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) in association with the International Windship Association (IWSA).
This event has become the leading technical forum dedicated exclusively to wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP), bringing together shipowners, technology providers, classification societies, researchers and financial stakeholders. This year’s edition marked a significant milestone: it was the first sold-out conference in its history, a strong signal that wind propulsion is no longer peripheral, but progressively moving toward mainstream consideration.
At regulatory level, discussions focused on the evolving European FuelEU Maritime framework and the broader Net Zero agenda. While recent international decisions have postponed certain key regulatory clarifications, the direction of travel is clear: decarbonization targets are reshaping shipowners’ investment strategies.
Wind propulsion technologies are increasingly seen as one of the few immediately deployable solutions capable of reducing fuel consumption and emissions on existing and new vessels alike. However, regulatory treatment and long-term policy stability remain critical variables for business case consolidation.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the conference was the growing presence of shipowners presenting operational feedback from real installations. Reported fuel savings are tangible and, in several cases, promising.
Yet the industry still operates under a significant layer of uncertainty.
Performance prediction methodologies, onboard measurement protocols, and validation standards remain heterogeneous. Confidence in long-term durability, ROI calculations and performance reproducibility is still being built. In many cases, operational optimization—such as trim strategies or system integration—remains based on preliminary predictions rather than on systematic onboard data analysis.
This gap between theoretical performance and verified operational data represents one of the key technical challenges for the sector.
The message emerging from London is clear: wind propulsion is progressing, but confidence is the true currency of acceleration.
For shipowners, insurers and financial institutions, validated and transparent performance prediction is essential. As systems scale up and investments grow, the need for independent, high-fidelity numerical simulations and robust validation methodologies becomes increasingly strategic.
Wind propulsion is no longer an experimental niche. It is an evolving industrial reality, one that requires technical rigor, scientific validation and cross-disciplinary collaboration to reach its full potential.
The strong attendance and diversity of stakeholders confirm that wind-assisted propulsion is gaining structural momentum. The coming years will likely define the standards, methodologies and reference cases that will shape the sector’s maturity.
For Caponnetto Hueber, events like this are essential not only to monitor technological evolution but to contribute to raising the level of technical accuracy and performance transparency across the industry.
The transition toward more efficient maritime transport is underway. The question is no longer if wind propulsion will play a role — but how precisely, how efficiently, and how reliably it will be integrated into tomorrow’s fleets.
To dive deeper into the technical challenges and opportunities of Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion, we invite you to explore our ongoing WASP article series, authored by our R&D Engineer David Bujeda, available in the Research section of our website under the Wind Propulsion category:
https://caponnetto-hueber.com/research/?e-filter-3c2826f-categorias-research-and-academy=wind_propulsion
If you would like to receive each new article directly in your inbox and be among the first to read them, you can subscribe to our mailing list here:
https://mailchi.mp/862dd2491468/ur6wweyyeb
Caponnetto Hueber attended the Wind Propulsion Conference 2026 in London, organized by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) in association with the International Windship Association (IWSA).
This event has become the leading technical forum dedicated exclusively to wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP), bringing together shipowners, technology providers, classification societies, researchers and financial stakeholders. This year’s edition marked a significant milestone: it was the first sold-out conference in its history, a strong signal that wind propulsion is no longer peripheral, but progressively moving toward mainstream consideration.
At regulatory level, discussions focused on the evolving European FuelEU Maritime framework and the broader Net Zero agenda. While recent international decisions have postponed certain key regulatory clarifications, the direction of travel is clear: decarbonization targets are reshaping shipowners’ investment strategies.
Wind propulsion technologies are increasingly seen as one of the few immediately deployable solutions capable of reducing fuel consumption and emissions on existing and new vessels alike. However, regulatory treatment and long-term policy stability remain critical variables for business case consolidation.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the conference was the growing presence of shipowners presenting operational feedback from real installations. Reported fuel savings are tangible and, in several cases, promising.
Yet the industry still operates under a significant layer of uncertainty.
Performance prediction methodologies, onboard measurement protocols, and validation standards remain heterogeneous. Confidence in long-term durability, ROI calculations and performance reproducibility is still being built. In many cases, operational optimization—such as trim strategies or system integration—remains based on preliminary predictions rather than on systematic onboard data analysis.
This gap between theoretical performance and verified operational data represents one of the key technical challenges for the sector.
The message emerging from London is clear: wind propulsion is progressing, but confidence is the true currency of acceleration.
For shipowners, insurers and financial institutions, validated and transparent performance prediction is essential. As systems scale up and investments grow, the need for independent, high-fidelity numerical simulations and robust validation methodologies becomes increasingly strategic.
Wind propulsion is no longer an experimental niche. It is an evolving industrial reality, one that requires technical rigor, scientific validation and cross-disciplinary collaboration to reach its full potential.
The strong attendance and diversity of stakeholders confirm that wind-assisted propulsion is gaining structural momentum. The coming years will likely define the standards, methodologies and reference cases that will shape the sector’s maturity.
For Caponnetto Hueber, events like this are essential not only to monitor technological evolution but to contribute to raising the level of technical accuracy and performance transparency across the industry.
The transition toward more efficient maritime transport is underway. The question is no longer if wind propulsion will play a role — but how precisely, how efficiently, and how reliably it will be integrated into tomorrow’s fleets.
To dive deeper into the technical challenges and opportunities of Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion, we invite you to explore our ongoing WASP article series, authored by our R&D Engineer David Bujeda, available in the Research section of our website under the Wind Propulsion category:
https://caponnetto-hueber.com/research/?e-filter-3c2826f-categorias-research-and-academy=wind_propulsion
If you would like to receive each new article directly in your inbox and be among the first to read them, you can subscribe to our mailing list here:
https://mailchi.mp/862dd2491468/ur6wweyyeb
Caponnetto Hueber attended the Wind Propulsion Conference 2026 in London, organized by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) in association with the International Windship Association (IWSA).
This event has become the leading technical forum dedicated exclusively to wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP), bringing together shipowners, technology providers, classification societies, researchers and financial stakeholders. This year’s edition marked a significant milestone: it was the first sold-out conference in its history, a strong signal that wind propulsion is no longer peripheral, but progressively moving toward mainstream consideration.
At regulatory level, discussions focused on the evolving European FuelEU Maritime framework and the broader Net Zero agenda. While recent international decisions have postponed certain key regulatory clarifications, the direction of travel is clear: decarbonization targets are reshaping shipowners’ investment strategies.
Wind propulsion technologies are increasingly seen as one of the few immediately deployable solutions capable of reducing fuel consumption and emissions on existing and new vessels alike. However, regulatory treatment and long-term policy stability remain critical variables for business case consolidation.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the conference was the growing presence of shipowners presenting operational feedback from real installations. Reported fuel savings are tangible and, in several cases, promising.
Yet the industry still operates under a significant layer of uncertainty.
Performance prediction methodologies, onboard measurement protocols, and validation standards remain heterogeneous. Confidence in long-term durability, ROI calculations and performance reproducibility is still being built. In many cases, operational optimization—such as trim strategies or system integration—remains based on preliminary predictions rather than on systematic onboard data analysis.
This gap between theoretical performance and verified operational data represents one of the key technical challenges for the sector.
The message emerging from London is clear: wind propulsion is progressing, but confidence is the true currency of acceleration.
For shipowners, insurers and financial institutions, validated and transparent performance prediction is essential. As systems scale up and investments grow, the need for independent, high-fidelity numerical simulations and robust validation methodologies becomes increasingly strategic.
Wind propulsion is no longer an experimental niche. It is an evolving industrial reality, one that requires technical rigor, scientific validation and cross-disciplinary collaboration to reach its full potential.
The strong attendance and diversity of stakeholders confirm that wind-assisted propulsion is gaining structural momentum. The coming years will likely define the standards, methodologies and reference cases that will shape the sector’s maturity.
For Caponnetto Hueber, events like this are essential not only to monitor technological evolution but to contribute to raising the level of technical accuracy and performance transparency across the industry.
The transition toward more efficient maritime transport is underway. The question is no longer if wind propulsion will play a role — but how precisely, how efficiently, and how reliably it will be integrated into tomorrow’s fleets.
To dive deeper into the technical challenges and opportunities of Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion, we invite you to explore our ongoing WASP article series, authored by our R&D Engineer David Bujeda, available in the Research section of our website under the Wind Propulsion category:
https://caponnetto-hueber.com/research/?e-filter-3c2826f-categorias-research-and-academy=wind_propulsion
If you would like to receive each new article directly in your inbox and be among the first to read them, you can subscribe to our mailing list here:
https://mailchi.mp/862dd2491468/ur6wweyyeb
During the 33rd America’s Cup cycle, Mario Caponnetto contributed to hydrodynamic assessment workstreams aligned with the BMW Oracle wing-sail platform, the configuration that ultimately won the Match. This milestone marked the shift toward aero-hydrodynamic integration in Cup design culture.
BMW Oracle Racing
America’s Cup / Aero-Hydro Integration / Performance Engineering
In 2021, Caponnetto Hueber led the CFD, foil design, and hydrodynamic engineering for the AC75 of Luna Rossa Challenge, the eventual Prada Cup winner. We deployed multiscale CFD and aero-hydro coupling to ensure optimum lift and control. Rapid iteration delivered performance gains under tight competition timelines.
Luna Rossa Challenge
Racing Concept / CFD / Foil Design