On the power consumption side of the Hypersail are control actuators, electronics, on-board systems and the winches. The Hypersail’s aim was to power all electrical consumers exclusively from renewable sources: solar, wind, kinetics – and, to a limited extent, the crew’s muscle power. The latter remains part of the system for regulatory reasons – the rules governing offshore record attempts stipulate that certain manoeuvres must be carried out purely by human power.
“To make the best possible use of solar energy, we carried out simulations: where on the boat do the panels generate the most energy, and at what time of day?” explains Lanzavecchia. The result was surprising: solar panels on the outside of the hull generate more energy at midday than those mounted on deck. At that time of day, they are positioned at a more favourable angle to the sun’s rays, whilst the panels on deck are in the shade. The optimised configuration comprises 100 square metres of solar panels, which generate 20.3 kilowatts of power.
Three wind turbines harness the apparent wind
On foils, the monohull is expected to reach speeds of 30 to 60 knots. This generates an enormous apparent wind, which can also be harnessed for energy. Ferrari’s analyses show that three strategically positioned wind turbines together cause a maximum efficiency loss of three per cent – a small price to pay for the amount of energy they contribute. Especially as this energy can be used directly for stability control, i.e. the continuous trimming of the foils.
A brilliant idea, but there’s a slight snag: commercial wind turbines are designed to operate at speeds of up to 50 knots. “But we operate at speeds of up to 60 knots. So, in our wind tunnel in Maranello, we developed our own turbine designed for these extreme conditions – controllable from the cockpit and with variable speed control,” explains Lanzavecchia. A kinetic energy harvester is also under development: a vibration-damped mass inside the boat converts the rolling and pitching motion of the hull into electrical energy. A clever system that turns an unavoidable source of energy loss into a source of revenue.
Multi-level voltage architecture
Of outstanding technical significance is the multi-level on-board voltage architecture: 12/24 volts for on-board services, 48 volts for intermediate systems and up to 800 volts for high-performance actuators such as the hydraulics for the canting keel. This 800-volt architecture corresponds exactly to that of the controversial electric Ferrari Luce. At the heart of the system is a DC/DC voltage converter – identical to the unit in the F80 supercar – which converts the collected energy from 48 to 800 volts with 98 per cent efficiency and feeds it into two high-voltage batteries, each with a capacity of 50 kWh and a power output of 150 kW. For high-performance manoeuvres such as trimming the large foil arms and the canting keel, energy is supplied directly at high voltage – without an inverter, and with minimal loss.
A wide range of sensors is designed to prevent collisions
A great deal of development work has also gone into preventing collisions with objects floating in the sea. Shipping containers, tree trunks, whales – a collision at 40 knots or more would spell the end of the record attempt and, in the worst-case scenario, the end of the boat as well. “We combine cameras, radar and sonar and use intensive sensor fusion to detect objects at an early stage – both above and below the water’s surface. The system sounds an alarm in good time so that the crew can take evasive action or the boat can manoeuvre out of the way automatically,” explains Marco Ribigini. The sonar is particularly important. It is integrated into the keel and must provide precise data at high speeds and the corresponding angle of inclination.
Perhaps the most surprising finding to emerge from the YACHT expert discussion in Maranello was that much of the technology used in the Hypersail already exists at Ferrari. It did not need to be developed from scratch. “We didn’t have to start from scratch with the flight control system,” said Lanzavecchia. “All the control logic that we’ve developed over the years for our cars already exists and works in our boat too. Do we need a powerful control unit? We’ve got one. Cables and other control devices? We’ve got them. An electric motor? It’s already fitted in the Luce.” The technically sophisticated systems that enable the sailors to fly across oceans for long periods in a stable manner, without any ‘rodeo’ manoeuvres, are already in place. Central to this are sensors that scan the wave pattern ahead and trigger automatic compensatory movements of the trim tabs on the foils in real time.
Innovation lab on four foils
Eighteen patents have already been filed for Hypersail, with a further six currently being drafted. What do these patents involve? Lanzavecchia gives specific examples. Alongside the winch-by-wire system and the energy management solutions, it is above all new combinations of materials with which Ferrari is breaking new ground. The foils of the carbon-fibre racing car are made from a hybrid composite of titanium and carbon fibre. Matteo Lanzavecchia: “We need an extremely rigid, lightweight and precise geometry.”
The reason is not merely structural: from around 42 knots, the foils begin to cavitate. In other words, gas bubbles form on the surface of the profile and collapse with enormous energy. Over time, this destroys the material. The Hypersail boat builders use titanium in two ways: as a kind of sandwich construction with carbon in the core – which is the basic structure of the foil – and as an outer protective layer that shields the core from erosion caused by cavitation. Such composite structures require complex simulations, not only in terms of design but also of the manufacturing process. X-ray inspections are mandatory.
New personal bests on the horizon
The Ferrari Hypersail is set to sail across the world’s oceans for weeks on end without any pit stops. The aim: to set new offshore records. Rarely has a racer attracted so much attention before its launch. Will the daring combination of foils work as Guillaume Verdier envisages? Will the innovative energy concept succeed in optimally powering all the hydraulic components? And above all: will the carbon-fibre speedster actually take to the air – stably, safely and over long distances? If so, Ferrari Hypersail has what it takes to make history, just like the Italians’ legendary racing cars.
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
