A method for estimating the wave resistance in planing and semi-planing hulls will be presented. This prediction method calculates the wave resistance from a distribution of surfaces pressures acting over the free water surface and uses the calculation methods, currently applied for the ACV (air-cushion vehicle). Starting from an original paper by G.E. Gadd [1], in which the Author calculated the far field wave pattern for fast boats, the wave resistance is calculated for high speed vehicles by assuming an appropriate hull pressure distribution; then a practical application is presented.
