All communication modules have been waterproofed and placed under the deck while meeting these requirements: The GPS and antennas must be far away from the sailwing as carbon fiber partially blocks the signal. The communication modules must be at least 30 cm from each other in order to prevent interference. The compass must be far…

It can act as a backup wind sensor which is less accurate, but more robust. For example, I was told that the ultrasonic wind sensor may not work correctly in a heavy rain or when the boat is heeling too much. The algorithm will constantly compare the sailwing position with the wind direction. If there’s…

The sailwing is now equipped with a flap that is turned by the waterproof actuator. The beauty of this concept is that it requires a small force to adjust the sailwing even in high winds. Here’s a video of the actuator in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15B6v7aHtc I decided to move the actuator higher than in the original…

The sailwing is almost finished! The next step is building the flap that will control the sailwing orientation. Both parts of the sailwing were joined with epoxy putty and a fiberglass tape. The solar panels will charge batteries located in the electronics compartment.

The sailwing has to be lightweight and strong enough to withstand high winds and storms, but robustness comes at the expense of weight. The inner skeleton makes the sailwing very hard to bend or break. For maximum reliability, there won’t be any electrical connection between the hull and the sailwing. The actuator will be controlled…