At the Palma International Boat Show, inside the Sustainability and Innovation Hub, Yacht Carbon Offset’s Client Consultant Anna found herself sharing exhibition space with ampStay, a new Austrian company focused on wind energy solutions for sailing yachts.
Developed by a team of experienced managers, technicians and sailors, and supported scientifically by the Institute for Renewable Energy at FH Technikum Austria, ampStay had arrived at Palma with a genuinely original idea: a wind turbine system that mounts directly onto a yacht’s existing backstay, turning one of the most underutilised parts of the rig into a continuous source of clean electricity. It was one of those concepts that immediately prompts the question: why has nobody done this before?
As with many seemingly simple innovations, the engineering behind it is considerably more complex than it first appears. But the concept is elegant, the execution is impressive, and the timing feels exactly right.
The Problem ampStay Is Solving
The ampStay system was developed in response to a very real and growing challenge: the electrical demands of modern sailing yachts are increasing constantly, whether for navigation and electronics or simply for everyday comforts such as refrigeration, induction cooking and air conditioning. Yet the options for generating off-grid power at sea remain limited, and each comes with its own set of compromises.
Engine alternators and diesel generators consume fuel and produce noise and vibration. Solar panels are an excellent renewable solution but are naturally constrained by daylight hours and clear skies, with overcast conditions significantly reducing their output. Conventional horizontal wind turbines can be effective but typically require an additional mast at the stern, which is visually intrusive and takes up valuable deck space. For sailors spending extended time offshore or at anchor, none of these solutions alone is sufficient.
ampStay approaches the problem differently. The backstay wind turbine concept addresses all of these shortcomings in one go: no additional structure, no fuel consumption, no restriction to daylight hours, and a design specifically engineered to be quiet and unobtrusive.
How The System Works
Rather than adding a separate mast or mounting structure, the ampStay system uses the yacht’s existing steel backstay as the main rotational axis. A slim cylindrical rotor, with a diameter of approximately 40cm, is mounted directly onto the backstay itself, opening up previously unused space on the yacht for wind power generation without altering the profile or function of the rig.
The system is modular and can be adapted to the length of the stay, with rotor heights available from 7 to 12 metres. At the base of the system sits a generator producing between 600W for a 7-metre system and up to 1,000W with a 10-metre rotor, capable of generating electricity from around 8 knots of wind and automatically regulating rotation speed in stronger conditions. A key design advantage is that the rotor harvests wind from any direction without needing to be tracked, making it equally effective whether at anchor or underway.
An integrated MPPT charge controller feeds power constantly and reliably into the yacht’s existing battery bank, with no significant modifications to the vessel’s electrical infrastructure required.
Comfort, Practicality & Safety
One particularly noteworthy aspect of the system is the attention paid to onboard comfort. ampStay is designed to be whisper-quiet and vibration-free, meaning it will not disturb the crew’s rest or neighbouring boats in a marina or anchorage. Noise and vibration are often the deciding factor for sailors when it comes to adopting wind-based power solutions, and this is an area where ampStay has clearly invested considerable thought.
Installation and removal are also surprisingly straightforward, taking only one to two hours and requiring no advanced technical expertise. The system can be quickly recovered in extreme weather conditions, and most of it removed when not in use, leaving only the generator and small bearings attached to the stay. For sailors who race, charter or simply prefer a cleaner rig in certain conditions, that flexibility is a meaningful advantage.
On the question of safety, the system is primarily optimised for wind speeds between 7 and 40 knots, covering the vast majority of offshore sailing conditions. The manufacturer advises against use in storm-force conditions, though the system has been tested in rough weather and includes integrated safety systems designed to protect both the equipment and the rig.
Complementing Solar: A More Complete Picture
What makes the ampStay backstay wind turbine especially compelling is how naturally it complements existing renewable energy solutions onboard, particularly solar. Solar panels remain one of the most accessible and effective ways to generate clean electricity at sea, but their output is limited by daylight hours and the availability of sunshine. Cloud cover, high latitudes and night passages all reduce their effectiveness considerably.
The ampStay system has the distinct advantage of operating continuously: day and night, in overcast conditions, and during passage when apparent wind is almost always present. Used alongside solar, it creates a genuinely balanced renewable energy system that keeps charging regardless of the time of day or the weather overhead. For yacht owners serious about reducing their reliance on fossil fuels at sea, that combination represents a meaningful step forward.
A Stand-Out Innovation
In Anna’s view, ampStay was one of the most interesting sustainability innovations at the Palma International Boat Show. Not because it is the most dramatic or technically complex solution on the market, but because it is clever: it solves a real problem, uses what is already there, and does so in a way that is practical, unobtrusive and accessible to a wide range of sailing yachts.
As Anna puts it, it is a timely reminder that innovation in sustainable yachting does not always mean reinventing the wheel. Sometimes it means looking at what is already on the boat and asking: what if we could make that work harder?
The system is currently in its final product design and series production preparation phase, with a waiting list open for sailors interested in being among the first to order.