
Automating Wind Power: Inside the 170-Square-Metre Retractable Wisamo Mast
Operating a traditional sailboat requires intense physical coordination and crew management. Michelin aims to simplify wind propulsion with the Wisamo wingsail, an autonomous, fully retractable rig designed for both pleasure yachts and commercial merchant vessels. After extensive testing alongside French navigator Michel Desjoyeaux and the Compagnie Maritime Nantaise, the 170-square-metre automated sail is entering commercial production. Discover how this self-reefing structure reduces fuel burn while maintaining complete deck clearance.








