Our Story
Advanced Wing Systems (AWS) was founded by brothers Greg and Patrick Johnston—lifelong sailors whose deep knowledge of wind dynamics and performance sailing inspired a breakthrough in maritime propulsion.
Their wing sail technology was first developed for high-performance yachts and successfully trialed during the 36th America’s Cup. Invited to collaborate with the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic team, the Johnstons played a key role in creating the first fully functional wing sail in the AC75 class. That experience validated the performance potential of their design.
Building on this success, the brothers undertook an ambitious 7,500-nautical-mile sea trial to test and refine the system. These real-world insights, combined with our team's extensive marine and heavy industry experience, led to the development of a scalable, modular, and rapidly deployable wing sail specifically engineered for commercial vessels—offering shipowners and operators a practical path to decarbonisation and fuel savings. These technical advantages are coupled with an innovative business model, which significantly reduces the barriers to product adoption by aligning the commercial needs of both the ship owner and the charterer with a pay-as-you save / gain-share model unique to Advanced Wing Systems.
Our Mission
To expedite the adoption of wind propulsion, significantly contributing to the decarbonisation of the international shipping industry.
Our Team
Advanced Wing Systems has been at the forefront of Wind Propulsion for over 30 years. Our team brings together over 200 years of industry experience.
