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MODX 70, the electric catamaran reshaping life under sail

MODX 70 combines inflatable wings, electric motors and solar energy in a catamaran designed to cruise without fossil fuel

Wind, sunlight and hydrogeneration power the MODX 70, creating a quieter and more energy-independent way to explore the sea

The MODX 70 was not created by simply replacing the diesel engines of a conventional catamaran with electric motors. Its designers started with a broader question, whether a large cruising yacht could use wind, sunlight and energy recovered at sea without relying on a fossil-fuel generator.

Their answer is a 21.3-metre multihull developed by Océan Développement and designed by VPLP Design. Its profile may look futuristic, yet its appearance is largely the result of practical decisions. Twin inflatable wings, an expansive solar roof and unusually open deck spaces are all parts of an integrated approach to energy efficiency.

Twin wings replace the conventional rig

The most distinctive feature of the MODX 70 is its Aeroforce propulsion system. Instead of a conventional mast, standing rigging and soft sails, the catamaran carries two 125-square-metre inflatable wings supported by rotating telescopic carbon masts.

When not required, the wings can be lowered into dedicated cradles above the coachroof. Once raised and inflated, they form aerodynamic profiles whose angle is adjusted automatically according to wind direction and strength.

Splitting the sail plan between two independent surfaces distributes the load and makes the available power easier to manage. The person at the helm selects the required level of thrust through a dedicated control, while the onboard system continuously trims the wings. Handling them feels closer to operating a throttle than managing the lines and winches normally found on a 70-foot sailing yacht.

Sailing made accessible to motor yacht owners

Automation is used to reduce complexity rather than add another layer of technology for the crew to supervise. The MODX 70 is controlled from an enclosed helm equipped with a wheel, digital displays and separate controls for the electric motors and wind propulsion.

Autopilot functions, wing management and the yacht’s energy systems communicate through a central interface. When power needs to be reduced, the wings can rotate towards the wind and release their load. Tacks and gybes can also be completed smoothly because the profiles rotate through 360 degrees without sheets crossing the deck.

This approach is intended to appeal to owners accustomed to motor yachts, allowing them to enjoy the quietness and efficiency of sailing without facing the usual demands of a large conventional rig or a sizeable deck crew.

A yacht that generates energy along the way

The MODX 70 is fully electric and draws renewable energy from several complementary sources. Around 70 square metres of solar panels cover the broad coachroof, a surface made possible by the absence of conventional running rigging.

While the yacht is moving under wind power, its variable-pitch propellers can operate as hydrogenerators. Water flowing past the propellers is converted into electricity and returned to the battery bank. Solar production, wind propulsion and hydrogeneration therefore work as parts of the same energy ecosystem.

During a voyage of approximately 2,000 nautical miles from Brittany to the Mediterranean, the first MODX 70 completed the passage without burning fossil fuel. Around 2,000 kWh of electricity was reportedly produced during the trip, most of it through hydrogeneration and the remainder from the solar array.

Silence becomes part of the onboard experience

Removing combustion engines and diesel generators changes more than the yacht’s environmental profile. Manoeuvring can be carried out with very little noise, while guests at anchor are no longer accompanied by the continuous hum of a generator supplying air conditioning, domestic appliances and hotel services.

A substantial battery bank powers both propulsion and onboard systems. Figures released during testing indicate that it can support several days of hotel operation even when sunshine and wind are limited. At moderate speed, the yacht is also credited with an electric motoring range of more than 100 nautical miles.

This does not make energy unlimited or remove the need for careful passage planning. It does, however, turn energy management into an active cycle of production, recovery and consumption rather than a simple matter of gradually emptying a fuel tank.

Nearly 200 square metres devoted to life at sea

The self-supporting wings allowed the designers to remove standing rigging, conventional side decks and much of the deck hardware associated with a traditional sail plan. The main deck can consequently extend across most of the yacht’s beam, creating a natural connection between the saloon, cockpit and outdoor terraces.

Almost 200 square metres are devoted to living areas. Large windows maintain a close visual relationship with the water and give the interior an atmosphere more commonly associated with a contemporary motor yacht than with a conventional sailing catamaran.

Tender storage has also been reconsidered. With no forward crossbeam, the central bow section could be extended to accommodate the tender, leaving the aft platform clear for relaxation, swimming and direct access to the sea.

Custom interiors for private or charter use

The MODX 70 can be configured as a private owner’s yacht or adapted for charter operation. Furniture, displays, fabrics, materials and colours may be selected according to individual preferences, while an optional flybridge introduces further possibilities for sunbathing and outdoor living.

The first yacht combines open views, clean surfaces and a layout designed around natural light. Its technology remains ever-present but does not dominate the guest areas. Electrical equipment, telescopic mast mechanisms and major structural elements are concentrated inside dedicated technical spaces at the foot of the masts.

The yacht is at its most persuasive when its complicated systems require little attention. Rather than constantly announcing their presence, they work quietly in the background and leave guests free to enjoy the surroundings.

Lower-impact materials support a lighter structure

Environmental considerations extend beyond propulsion. The structure uses partially bio-sourced resins, foam incorporating recycled material and selected applications of flax fibre and cork. Carbon fibre and glass fibre are employed where strength and weight reduction make them necessary.

Reducing displacement is not only a performance objective. A lighter yacht requires less energy to accelerate, allows the wings to operate more effectively and limits the electrical power needed when manoeuvring under motor.

No large yacht can entirely remove the environmental impact associated with its construction. The MODX 70 nevertheless takes a broader view, considering materials, structural weight and operational energy as interconnected parts of the same design problem.

Performance supports a different kind of cruising

During sea trials, the catamaran exceeded 20 knots in stronger conditions and approached true wind speed in much lighter airs. These are notable figures for a cruising platform carrying extensive accommodation and a complete suite of onboard systems.

Speed, however, is not pursued only for excitement. Efficient progress under the wings also contributes to energy autonomy by increasing hydrogeneration and reducing the need to draw power from the batteries.

Wind is therefore more than a means of propulsion, while sunlight does more than operate domestic equipment. Together, they form a system that produces, recovers and distributes energy throughout the voyage.

A floating laboratory designed as a luxury yacht

Many sustainable vessels begin as technology demonstrators and attempt to add comfort later. The MODX 70 follows a different path by integrating experimental solutions into a yacht created from the outset for high-end cruising.

Long-term use will still have to confirm the durability of its automated systems, the maintenance requirements of the inflatable wings and the performance of the complete platform under demanding charter or private operation. Every technology moving beyond the prototype stage faces the same practical test.

The MODX 70 does not suggest that yachting’s energy transition has already been completed. Its achievement is more measured and perhaps more meaningful. It shows that performance, generous living areas, quiet operation and renewable propulsion can be considered together from the first line of a design. It also suggests that the future of sailing may look very different from the rigs that have defined the horizon for centuries.

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MODX Catamarans

31 July 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
MODX 70, the electric catamaran reshaping life under sail
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.