Ferrari, a name best known for its speed on race tracks, is now making waves in the world of sailing. The iconic brand has announced an exciting new project called Hypersail, which aims to combine innovative technology with the tradition of offshore racing. This bold step shows Ferrari’s willingness to push boundaries beyond motorsport and explore new frontiers.
What Is the Hypersail Project?
The Hypersail project is all about creating a cutting-edge sailing yacht. Led by expert sailor Giovanni Soldini, Ferrari’s goal is to develop a high-performance, 100-foot monohull that can fly across the oceans. This vessel is designed to be a flying ocean racing yacht, capable of staying afloat and stabile by flying on only three contact points. It’s a major engineering feat that brings together the worlds of automotive and nautical innovation.
The yacht was designed by French naval architect Guillaume Verdier, known for his work in racing boats. It features a special canting keel that supports one of the foils, giving the yacht its unique ability to lift out of the water and reduce drag. The other contact points include a foil on the rudder and lateral foils which can switch positions. The boat is currently being built in Italy and is set to launch in 2026. After the launch, it will undergo tests at sea to ensure it meets its high standards of performance and safety.
Ferrari's chairman, John Elkann, said that the Hypersail project pushes the brand to go beyond its usual boundaries. He explained that this challenge aligns with Ferrari’s DNA of innovation, comparing it to their successful hypercars that have won races around the world. For Elkann, this project is about exploring maximum endurance in a new environment—sailing across the open ocean.
Innovating at the Intersection of Nautical and Automotive Tech
Ferrari’s Hypersail project is not just about building a fast boat. It’s also a platform for research and development. The team is working on new systems for aerodynamics, energy efficiency, power management, and stability, all vital for sailing in unpredictable conditions. They are incorporating technology from their sports cars, especially in flight control systems and structural design, to ensure the yacht can perform at the highest level while remaining safe and reliable.
Ferrari has filed nine patents related to new marine technologies, and six more are in progress. These patents cover innovative ideas that could change both nautical and automotive engineering. For example, the yacht’s flight control system uses aerodynamic principles similar to car design, which improves performance and safety during extended ocean journeys without stopovers or external assistance.
Giovanni Soldini, the project’s leader, expressed his excitement about working across different fields. He said that combining Ferrari’s excellence with ocean sailing expertise creates a unique and revolutionary vessel. The project also involves collaboration with various specialized experts and companies, emphasizing open innovation and exchanging ideas to push the limits of what is possible in both industries.
Looking ahead, the Hypersail company plans to test the yacht’s capabilities in real sea conditions, aiming for maximum performance under different weather and sea states. The technological advances made here could influence the future of offshore racing and maybe even high-performance cars. Ferrari’s venture into sailing illustrates how technology and innovation can transcend traditional borders, inspiring new ideas and better solutions in multiple fields.
In summary, Ferrari’s Hypersail project is more than a racing yacht—it's a bold experiment in technological fusion and endurance. As the yacht prepares for its first sea trials in 2026, the world will watch closely, curious to see how a brand famous for speed on land and track can also dominate the vast oceans.
