Three, two, one - hoist, the gennaker goes up and is immediately in the perfect position. With only 12 knots of true wind, the log jumps into double figures. At the tiller: none other than Luca Bassani, chief designer and founder of Wally Yachts. A man who is used to setting standards - and who is opening a new chapter in performance sailing with the Wallyrocket 51.
But first things first: On 14 October 2024, the Wallyrocket 51 was officially launched. The news spread like wildfire in the sporting regatta scene. No wonder: the name Wally is a household name among sailors - and the fact that the Italian luxury brand is now competing with established classes such as the TP52 or the ClubSwan 50 is causing quite a stir. Does it need to? Perhaps not. But as with a 69-foot Hallberg-Rassy or a Y9, it's not about having to - it's about wanting to. And with style and pure conviction.
Design with a message
The 15.5 metre long racing yacht was designed by the Spanish designers Botin Partners - known for their successes in the America's Cup and even more so in the TP52 series. The aim was to create a yacht that not only functions as a one-design class, but also sails at the front in IRC and ORC fields. The result: a slim, aggressively designed racer with a long overhang and radical T-keel.
High-tech down to the last detail
The Wallyrocket 51 is built using an uncompromising lightweight construction method: The hull is made of foam core with carbon sandwich laminate, the deck is made of Nomex honeycomb core - an ultra-light aramid material used in high-tech yacht building and aircraft construction. The laminate is made exclusively from prepreg carbon fibre. Prepreg is a material in which the carbon fibre laminate is already pre-impregnated with resin. A yacht could hardly be built in a more modern, lighter and stiffer way.
The result: an unladen weight of just 6.25 tonnes - around 700 kilos less than the TP52 "Platoon" and a whopping two tonnes lighter than a ClubSwan 50, i.e. optimised down to the last gram. The total weight gives an idea of where the journey is heading: into the fast lane.
Full sail area
The sail figures are just as impressive: 167 m² upwind, 363 m² downwind, with the gennaker measuring 265 m². For comparison for sailors with more normal boats: The Hanse 510 has a gennaker sail area of 206 m². In contrast, the Wallyrocket 51 is almost on a par with the TP52 - but with a significantly lower weight.
Ergonomics meets efficiency
The deck layout is uncompromisingly designed for racing: Double helm stations, flat superstructures, clear running paths, perfectly positioned winches. Everything is trimmed for fast, precise handling. The boat is sailed with a sporty crew of eight to eleven people - or optionally with electric winches, which also enable reduced crew operation for offshore races or owner-driver events.
Racing Ready - with style
The Wallyrocket 51 sails early, holds its altitude with ease and literally explodes on a space course. But for all its performance, it also remains a design statement. Where other racers come in a uniform grey, Wally relies on striking lines and characterful aesthetics - even though the boat is matt black. It's not just speed that counts here - the eye also sails along.
Despite its elegance, there is no denying its uncompromising regatta character. The Wallyrocket 51 is not a yacht for cosy weekend cruises. It is designed to be uncompromising. For owners with sporting ambitions and a sense of style. For sailors who don't just want to cruise along, but want to lead the way. The Admiral's Cup and the ORC Mediterranean Regatta in Sorrento, which have been relaunched, will be the first opportunity for the boat to demonstrate its potential.
The detailed test report of the Wallyrocket 51 will soon be published in YACHT.
Jan-Ole Puls
Editor Test & Technology
