BOAT lovers were given a glimpse into the future of inshore racing as Southampton Solent University showed off their new Solent Whisper catamaran at the PSP Southampton Boat Show.

Hampshire yachtsman and Southampton Solent University graduate Geoff Holt MBE, known for becoming the first quadriplegic sailor to sail the Atlantic, unveiled the boat.

The 5.9m sailing catamaran, created at the university’s Warsash Maritime Academy and city centre campus, features a cutting-edge hydrofoil system, designed by the academy’s naval architecture lecturer Ron Price.

The system allows the boat to be lifted out of the water when it gains speed, making it go even faster – hitting speeds of more than 25 knots.

Ron said: “I’m hoping that my design ideas will make inshore and small boat racing more accessible and affordable for the average club racer, those who sail for pleasure and people with disabilities.

“We are engineering the boat in a way that the design is smart enough to keep production costs low.”

The prototype is the result of months of hard work made possible by the technical experience, support and skills from colleagues across the university and the state-of-the-art facilities at both the engineering workshop at the maritime academy and the composites lab at Solent.

Ron added: “I was very fortunate to have access to the incredible skill and knowledge of the engineering technicians, the support of staff, and use of the superb facilities at the university.”

The university hopes the catamaran will go on sale by January 2015 and it is expected to cost around £15,000.

It is currently on display at the university’s stand, C043A, at the PSP Southampton Boat Show.