The University Of Bologna Triumphs At The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

Historic results for the University of Bologna at the 2025 edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, the most prestigious international competition dedicated to sustainable boating, hosted at the Yacht Club de Monaco and featuring 42 university teams from around the world.

The UniBoAT team, with its electric catamaran prototype Futura, triumphed in the Energy Class, one of the most technical and competitive categories of the competition, also setting a new speed record. The University’s other team, Red Wave, took first place in the SeaLab Class, an experimental category that promotes pioneering solutions for sustainable boating.

In addition, the University of Bologna was awarded the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Prize for “Sustainable Yachting Technology”, worth €25,000, thanks to the COMPETR electric propulsion system developed by a group of students.

The students behind these achievements, supported by the Department of Industrial Engineering, met today with Rector Giovanni Molari, who congratulated them on behalf of the entire University.

UNIBOAT TEAM TRIUMPHS IN THE ENERGY CLASS
With its electric catamaran Futura, the UniBoAT team of the University of Bologna won all the races in the Energy Class: the University’s fourth title in the last five editions of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

The Energy Class is one of the most technical and competitive categories of the event, reserved for fully electric boats, designed and built entirely by team members.

From the very start, UniBoAT proved highly competitive with Futura, securing first place not only in the qualifying rounds but also in the Speed Record race, reaching the highest speed ever recorded in the category: 28.4 knots. The team went on to win further races (Endurance Race, Slalom), as well as the Design and Innovation categories — all results that led to an inevitable first place in the overall standings.

RED WAVE TEAM WINS IN THE SEALAB CLASS
Making its debut at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, the University of Bologna’s other team, Red Wave, also demonstrated outstanding performance, winning first place in the SeaLab Class.

The SeaLab Class is an experimental category promoting pioneering solutions for sustainable boating. Projects are evaluated for their long-term vision and their ability to anticipate future environmental and technological challenges in the sector.

The Red Wave team, supported by technical collaboration with Focchi - a leading company in high-performance RIBs and a key partner in the boat’s development - achieved first place in the Endurance trial, one of the most demanding races of the competition. The 16-nautical-mile course is designed to test propulsion systems’ reliability and endurance in real conditions. The team’s boat also secured first place in the manoeuvrability trial, demonstrating excellent integration between propulsion system and hull.

THE COMPETR INNOVATIVE ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM
Alongside its major racing victories, the University of Bologna also received the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Prize for “Sustainable Yachting Technology”, thanks to its COMPETR propulsion system. This prestigious award, worth €25,000, honours the best sustainable technologies designed for the yachting sector.

Developed by a group of University students and further advanced through the creation of a spin-off company, COMPETR is a highly innovative electric outboard motor. Installed on both the UniBoAT catamaran Futura and the Red Wave vessel, the system demonstrated reliability and high performance even under extreme conditions, thanks to its patented architecture featuring contra-rotating pulling propellers, a carbon fibre structure, and a high-efficiency modular battery.

Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose foundation promotes the prize, attended the event and met the University of Bologna teams, showing great interest in the technologies developed and their future applications.

In light of this success, COMPETR now aims to move beyond the racing circuit and make this technology available to anyone seeking high-performance sustainable boating.

SUPPORT FROM MOST – NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
Developed within the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Bologna, the research and sporting activities of UniBoAT and Red Wave are also supported by funding from MOST – the National Centre for Sustainable Mobility, within the framework of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

MOST, through collaboration with 24 universities, the National Research Council (CNR), and 24 major companies, is dedicated to developing innovative, sustainable and inclusive solutions for Italy’s mobility system. It also promotes the advancement of electric and hydrogen propulsion systems, digital solutions for transport safety, and new models of mobility that are inclusive and accessible.