The University of Auckland’s student-led Advanced Foiling Team (AFT) has spent the past year designing and building a carbon-fibre foiling Moth, Kōtare, starting with an empty hull shell. In early October 2026, the team took Kōtare out for its first test sail, using a Moth sail donated by Doyle Sails.
The boat first foiled during tow tests in June 2026. Since then, the team has continued developing and preparing it for sailing. The donated sail has been an important part of that progress, allowing the team to finalise the control systems of the boat and test their work under sail. Moving forward, the team will continue to learn, improve and refine the design, with modifications and more sailing sessions to come over the next few months.
“Working with a small, student budget, AFT relies on industry support to help put its designs into practice.” Says Charlotte Wren “The AFT team are grateful to Doyle Sails for the contribution and support.”
AFT’s focus is on developing high-performance foiling boats with sustainability in mind. The team is working towards the 2027 SuMoth Challenge at Lake Garda, Italy, where university teams from around the world compete in Moths designed and built with an emphasis on sustainability. AFT will be the first team from the Southern Hemisphere to compete in the challenge. The team is excited to take the learnings from this first boat and transfer them into a second, sustainable boat that will continue to be powered by Doyle Sails.
ABOUT DOYLE SAILS // Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.
Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.