A new foiling Moth built from recycled PET from plastic bottles, bio-based resins, and natural flax and basalt fibres has been launched by the Audace Sailing Team of the University of Trieste. Named Neverina, the boat was officially unveiled on Wednesday 13 May at Yacht Club Adriaco in Trieste, with Armare Ropes among its main partners.
The project is the work of more than 70 students drawn from six departments across the university, combining engineering, yacht design, material research, and aerodynamic development into a single applied-learning programme. The team's guiding framework, described as "Sustainable, Reliable, Commercializable", shaped every design and construction decision from the outset.
Sustainability runs through the build at a practical level. Hull and deck were both produced from a single mould to cut waste, while Life Cycle Assessment analysis through the MarineShift360 platform tracks the environmental footprint of design and construction choices throughout the project.
CFD and FEM simulations were used to refine dynamic behaviour, structural reliability, and foil efficiency, with particular attention given to foil development and mould optimisation to reduce the project's overall environmental footprint.
The boat's name comes from a local weather phenomenon. In Trieste, a "neverin" is a sudden, intense event bringing strong winds, rain, and rapid weather changes that can transform the Gulf within minutes. The team chose the name to reflect a boat built to react quickly and precisely in demanding conditions.
Neverina will represent the University of Trieste at the SuMoth Challenge 2026, the international university competition for foiling Moths. The three student-athletes who will sail the boat, Leonardo Centuori, Anastasia Mutti, and Carlotta Rizzardi, also contribute actively to its technical development.
Before the SuMoth Challenge, Audace Sailing Team will present the project at the Venice Boat Show from 27 to 31 May, and at Amsterdam MetsTrade from 17 to 19 November.
