Submarine Racing Series Design Competition DC-26

The Design Competition for Hybrid-Powered Racing Submarines (DC‑2026) is actively seeking teams to design racing submarines using advanced hydrodynamics and propulsion with leading edge materials. We are looking for innovative designs for human-electric hybrid submarines with planned pilot safety, even at high performance. The competition aims to highlight the opportunities available in marine and submarine engineering and encourage more people to connect with both the sport and the marine industry.

THE COMPETITION OBJECTIVE:
Design a two‑pilot submarine, optimized for coastal ocean conditions, capable of reaching 10 knots. This is a marked leap from existing human-powered racers (5–7 knots). Entrants must strike a careful balance between speed, agility, buoyancy, structural integrity, and safe operation within a 10 m depth limit for up to 40 minutes of race durations.

The Design Competition will be followed by a Build Phase ending in 2026 where selected participants can realize their dream machines as they construct, then test and ultimately in 2027 race their hybrid-powered submarines. Applications are now being accepted from teams who want to design a machine which will compete in the narrow band between the deep sea and the open air. They can create and elaborate their ideas before the entry deadline in early 2026. The focus on design without physical build enables widespread participation and allows teams to evaluate innovative ideas without any immediate manufacturing constraints.

PARTICIPATION
Submissions will be welcomed from multidisciplinary teams or suitably qualified individuals, ideally with 6–10 members and skills spanning project management, propulsion, electronics, naval architecture and pilot safety. As in many real-world engineering projects, participants will need to plan their project schedule as they gain hands-on experience in multidisciplinary design of a complex system integration that has a strong operational safety theme.

WHY ENGAGE?
• Skill Enhancement: Apply marine engineering, propulsion,
hydrodynamics, project management, manufacturing, and safety in a cohesive real-life technical challenge.
• Cutting‑Edge Racing Portfolio: Showcase your design in a global, high‑visibility competition.
• Networking and Collaboration: Interface with industry experts, secure access to high-end tools, and engage mentors.

LAUNCH YOUR PROJECT
Interested? Then now is the time to send us an expression of interest to receive detailed specifications and start a dialog. You can then start to assemble a 6- 10-member core, balancing engineering and project skills.
You can then start on your design with early-stage planning and tools to align with the Spring 2026 submission.
Don’t miss this chance to take part in an innovative event within the marine engineering sector and help shape the future of hybrid-powered Submarine Racing.