HydroComp Inc. and FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS AG today published a collaborative case study demonstrating efficient system-level optimisation of an 11-meter planing monohull operating at 27.5 knots.

Using parametric hull design in CAESES® coupled with HydroComp NavCad® semi-empirical predictions (enhanced Savitsky method), the team applied Sobol Design of Experiments and local T-search optimisation. Results achieved an 11.9% drag reduction (16.8kN to 14.8kN) and 14.9% shaft power savings (2×195kW to 2×166kW) – performance gains matching full viscous CFD but obtained 600 times faster on a standard laptop.

Optimised geometries featured inward/downward chines, rising keel, and refined deadrise angles, closely validated against towing tank and CFD data.

The workflow proves semi-empirical tools excel for rapid early-stage design space exploration, reserving HPC CFD for final validation.

Read the complete study and try the approach in CAESES.

For more information, visit https://www.caeses.com/blog/2026/early-stage-system-level-optimization-of-a-fast-planing-monohull/.