Ubi Maior at the 2026 Genoa Boat Show: Italian technology to master the sails

Visiting Genoa International Boat Show’s Sailing World means entering the most technical heart of sailing. Alongside the boats, in fact, are those companies that work on apparently small components, but which are capable of substantially affecting the efficiency and performance of a vessel. It is precisely in this segment that Ubi Maior Italia fits in, which we visited during the 66th edition of the Genoa Boat Show, held from October 1 to 6. At stand SS18, the company presented an overview of its production dedicated to deck hardware: blocks, furlers, headsail systems, and numerous components designed for both cruising and high-performance sailing. 

The manufacturing philosophy of Ubi Maior is particularly interesting because engineering and production are managed in-house. In fact, the company produces blocks, sheaves, furlers, and connectors in its own facility using precision machining and subjecting products to structural testing and subsequent sea trials. A structure that also allows for the development of custom components to meet the needs of individual projects.

Jiber, the Jib Furler That Eliminates the Foil

One of the most interesting products to observe up close is certainly Jiber. It is a structural jib furler that eliminates the traditional aluminum foil: the rod stay is directly connected to the drum and swivel, and by rotating, it transmits the torque necessary to furl the sail. This solution allows for hoisting and lowering the sail while simultaneously adjusting halyard tension. A shuttle automatically locks at the masthead once hoisting is complete and unlocks during lowering. The sail can instead be attached to the stay via hanks or a zip bag.

But the most obvious advantage is weight savings. According to Ubi Maior, eliminating the foil can mean about 30 kg less compared to an equivalent traditional system. A value that is particularly important because it involves weight located at the bow and in a position that directly influences the dynamic behavior of the boat.

Added to this is the reduction of aerodynamic drag around the entry edge of the jib, with potential benefits on upwind legs. Jiber is also available in the Jiber TX configuration with a textile or composite stay, while the different versions reach declared breaking loads up to 50,000 kg.

FR Furlers, Furlers for Code Zeros and Gennakers

Another fundamental chapter of Ubi Maior’s production is represented by FR Furlers, the furlers developed for managing headsails. The range includes solutions for straight-luff sails, such as Code Zeros, and free-flying configurations intended for gennakers, starting from dinghy applications up to large yachts and custom builds.

The drum and swivel are machined from solid 6082T6 aluminum and use cylindrical roller thrust bearings. The range covers numerous sizes: the FR87 model is designed for boats between 18 and 26 feet, while moving up in size progressively increases loads and possible applications.

Within this family, ReWind stands out, a solution developed to further simplify the management of Code Zeros and gennakers. It is one of those components that clearly demonstrate Ubi Maior’s approach: intervening in a maneuver familiar to every sailor and trying to make it more immediate through mechanics.

From Cruisers to Racers: Three Families of Blocks

Strolling through the stand, another important part of the exhibition was inevitably occupied by blocks. Ubi Maior has developed different families precisely because the needs of a modern cruiser are very different from those of a boat engineered to compete at the highest levels.

The Yacht Club line is designed mainly for cruising. The cheekplates are made of 6082T6 aluminum machined from solid and anodized, while sheaves and balls are made of Delrin, and the pin, hardware, and shackle are made of AISI 316 stainless steel. Particular attention is also paid to isolation between steel and aluminum to limit the risk of galvanic corrosion. 

Moving toward sportier applications, we find the Regata family. Here, the central theme becomes the ratio between load, smooth running, and weight. Joining the RT range are RT Ultra, which are more compact and lightweight and feature a central textile attachment, and RT eVe, developed for high-level racing yachts where weight reduction must coexist with particularly high loads. 

Even more extreme is the philosophy of the X3M Flight. These blocks are intended exclusively for textile attachments and are engineered specifically to achieve a particularly favorable ratio between load capacity, dimensions, and weight. A solution in which every gram and every millimeter become an integral part of performance.

Not Just Blocks: Complete Deck Hardware

Visiting the Genoa stand made it clear that Ubi Maior’s catalog goes far beyond its most recognizable products. The company offers a complete range of rigging and deck accessories. Among these, we find low-friction rings and barber rings, snatch blocks, connectors, crossovers, and padeyes. The latter include HPD high-load through-deck fittings, SPD versions with textile attachments, and FPD flush-deck padeyes. In the catalog, FPD models reach declared maximum working loads up to 13,000 kg. 

Also interesting are the aluminum deck organizers, available with high-load sheaves or in high-smoothness fixed-hole configurations, with the option of custom sizes. Crossovers are designed to be installed aft of clutches to redirect a line to the opposite winch without using the winch base as a deflector. 

Completing the picture is the line dedicated to sailmakers, which includes, among other things, anodized aluminum headboards for 50, 70, and 100-foot boats, as well as the ability to produce custom components such as mainsail and jib headboards.

Ubi Maior, Where Precision Engineering Meets Sailing

Ubi Maior does not simply build marine accessories; rather, it starts from precision engineering to tackle some of the most concrete problems in sail management—from weight reduction to friction minimization, up to the need to handle ever-increasing loads on high-performance yachts. This was the most interesting aspect to emerge from visiting the Sailing World stand. In a boat show inevitably dominated by vessels, observing drums, bearings, blocks, padeyes, and furling systems up close is a reminder of how much a sailing yacht’s performance relies on components measuring just a few centimeters. Behind a faster maneuver, an easier sail to manage, or a few kilograms saved, there can be extremely sophisticated engineering work. In Genoa, Ubi Maior showed this less flashy but fundamental side of contemporary sailing: where the pursuit of performance passes through the precision of every single component.

Sources and References

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