DMG MORI: Exploring New Frontiers in IMOCA Design

The new Team DMG MORI IMOCA, designed by Guillaume Verdier, represents one of the boldest design concepts introduced in the class in recent years. Rather than refining existing solutions, the project explores a fundamentally different approach to offshore performance, drawing inspiration from technologies developed in the America’s Cup while adapting them to the unique demands of solo ocean racing.

At the heart of the design is a distinctive bustle integrated beneath the hull, combined with lateral water ballast tanks—an unprecedented configuration in the IMOCA fleet. This innovative architecture is intended to improve stability during foiling transitions while reducing hydrodynamic drag, allowing the yacht to reach stable flight earlier and more efficiently across a wide range of sailing conditions.

The unveiling of the boat immediately attracted attention throughout the IMOCA community. Rival teams, including Team Malizia, described the concept as remarkably radical, acknowledging that it challenges many of the current design conventions within the class. At the same time, the project is recognised as a calculated technological gamble, with its ultimate potential depending on how the complete package, including the foil design, performs on the water.

The DMG MORI project reflects Guillaume Verdier’s and his team  ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of yacht design through innovation rather than incremental evolution. By questioning established solutions and exploring new hydrodynamic concepts, the design contributes to the continuous evolution of the IMOCA class and may influence the direction of future offshore racing yachts