The paper describes an innovative approach of actuation of yacht and mega-yacht rudders based on the use of fluidic muscles. Fluidic muscles show very interesting and unconventional potentialities representing a viable alternative to the mechanical or oil-hydraulic systems commonly used. This device increases the user safety, moreover it reduces the risks connected to fire hazards and it is environmental friendly. It is more lightweight due to the elements of the membrane, it is more reliable being characterized by a reduced number of malfunctions during operation, it has a longer life because of the absence of elements in relative movement, it is cheaper both in terms of cost of the components and in terms of maintenance during operation. The possibility to use other fluids as an alternative to air is not to be excluded. In addition, fluidic muscles have advantages in terms of high power/weight and power/volume rations, good behavior both at high and low frequencies, generating forces at the beginning of the contraction ten times larger then those produced by pneumatic cylinders of same diameter. On the contrary the dynamic behavior is non-linear and it is asymmetric in contraction and extension. The possibilities of application in rudder commands are, of course, related to the intrinsic limits of the pneumatics. In order to test the actual performances of this type of actuator in the specific application of rudders motion a prototype of rudder actuation has been designed and realized. The muscle is driven  by a pressure control valve interfaced to a customized control panel generatd on PC in LabVIEW software environment. A customized and user friendly front panel allows the management of the actuation. Experimental tests under simulated disturbances generated on the rudder axis showing a positive application of this type of actuation are focussed and described.