Francis Hueber is a Naval Architect and Co-founder of Caponnetto Hueber SL, with over 20 years of experience in high-performance, foiling, and efficient yacht design, as well as CFD, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics.
A graduate of ENSTA Bretagne, he has played a key role in six America’s Cup campaigns, winning in 2010 and 2013 with BMW Oracle and ORACLE TEAM USA, and securing the Prada Cup in 2021 with Luna Rossa.
At Caponnetto Hueber, Francis leads the strategic direction, overseeing business development, client relations, and R&D project initiatives, while guiding the technical execution. He facilitates and stimulates the team’s creativity, helping them imagine and develop new ideas for the future of yachting and maritime transportation.
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