Strata And SailGP Forge Partnership For F50 Catamaran Components Production In Abu Dhabi

SailGP, renowned for its high-speed water races, has unveiled a new production partnership with Strata Manufacturing. Strata, a composite aero-structures manufacturing facility owned by Mubadala Investment Company, will supply and manufacture key elements of SailGP’s F50 catamarans. This collaboration enhances Mubadala’s existing relationship with SailGP, where it already serves as a Global Series Partner.

Mubadala is also the title partner for the upcoming Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, scheduled for 22nd-23rd June 2024. Since its inception in 2010, Strata has produced thousands of composite aircraft parts for global manufacturers. Now, Strata will manufacture and supply components such as wing sails, T-rudders, and newly designed T-foils for SailGP’s fleet of F50 hydrofoiling catamarans.

Strata will collaborate with SailGP Technologies, the league’s primary manufacturing facility based on the South Coast of England. This partnership aims to expand the number of international events in SailGP’s Season 5 calendar and beyond. The F50s used by the league's 10 teams are identical and feature advanced technology developed over a decade.

The F50 catamarans can reach speeds up to 100 km/h (54 knots / 62 mph). The partnership was announced at the Make it in the Emirates Forum (MIITE) in the UAE, an annual event showcasing investment opportunities in manufacturing and technology within the region.

Ismail Ali Abdulla, Head of UAE Clusters at Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform and Managing Director of Strata, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are delighted to have Strata support events such as SailGP and demonstrate its expertise in composite aerostructures to foster innovation, technological advancement, and economic diversification in the region. Through this partnership with SailGP we will leverage the manufacturing expertise of one of our key portfolio companies to support this leading global race. We are proud to see the F50 components being produced in the UAE, showcasing our advanced manufacturing capabilities and contributing to the 'Make it in the Emirates' initiative."

SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson added, "We are excited to extend our partnership with Mubadala to include Strata as our new production partner. This new partnership complements our existing manufacturing facility – SailGP Technologies – that is now based on the South Coast of England. Our fleet of F50s is an innovative one-design fleet and by extending our manufacturing capabilities in the Middle East, it will allow us to continually innovate as well as fully service our existing and new fleet of F50s, especially as we start and end Season 5 in the region."

With inputs from WAM