With a Master’s in Naval Architecture and more than 25 years of experience, Alexandre Mercier blends deep technical expertise with creative yacht design. From custom racing boats to superyacht refits, he has led complex naval architecture projects across the globe, including high-performance designs for Wally, Nautor Swan, production boats and TP52 class yachts. At Caponnetto-Hueber, Alexandre brings his multidisciplinary background to the forefront—combining structural engineering, project management and a lifelong passion for sailing to deliver optimized, elegant, and competitive vessels.
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