ABOUT E1


 Ushering in a new era of electric racing on water

Introduction to E1

E1 is the first electric raceboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body of powerboating. E1 holds an exclusive license with the UIM to promote a racing series on the water powered solely by electric. The championship was established to create a new, competitive on-water racing proposition based on clean technologies to protect our waters and coastal areas.

Up close shot of the RaceBird

A revolutionary new raceboat

Central in every category of racing is the vehicle, or in this case the vessel, which the competitors will race with. In the E1 World Championship, the pilots will fly above the water’s surface behind the wheel of the RaceBird using innovative hydrofoil technology. The boat is the brainchild of Norwegian designer Sophi Horne and was brought to life together with naval architect and marine engineer Brunello Acampora.

Transforming marine mobility

E1’s philosophy has been inspired by the success of other forms of electric racing and how they act as a platform to accelerate sustainable technologies. Series co-founders Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso aim to apply that same ethos to racing on the water and help decarbonise future leisure boats. Along with being a proving ground for electric technologies, E1 is also committed to making a positive impact beyond racing.

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The Future is Electric

History of Hydrofoiling

  • 1869

    Patent Granted

    First patent granted to Emmanuel Farcot for wings or edges to lift the boat and decrease drag

  • 1906

    Testing Ladder Foils

    Italian Enrico Forlaini successfully uses a set of ladder foils on Lago Maggiore reaching 36.9 knots

  • 1895-1916

    First 'True' Hydrofoil

    The two Meacham brothers from Chicago developed what many consider to be the first true hydrofoil

  • 1919

    New Foiling Speed Record

    Bell and Baldwin launch the HD-4 powered by two aircraft engines achieving a new foiling speed record of 61 knots

  • 1938

    Breaking Records Again

    Miss USA created by American Philip L. Rhodes set a new speed record of 80 knots

  • 1952

    First Passenger Foiling Boat

    Boron Hanns von Schertel and Karl Buller develop the first passenger hydrofoiler called the Golden Arrow

  • 2013

    Competitive Return

    For the first time the America's Cup was sailed using foiling boats in the waters of San Francisco Bay

  • 2022

    The RaceBird

    Prototype Takes Flight for the First Time

  • Future

    Discover more about the RaceBird

    See how we make the racebird fly