Built for records
The spectacular monohull is intended to replace the Coville's Jules Verne record around the world pulverise and at the same time to the new Gitana 18-Trimaran Paroli offer.
Ferrari focusses on performance
The project is currently entering a new phase, focussing on the installation of technological systems, their validation and functional integration. At the same time, the focus is on optimising the performance of the foiling racer. From the outset, the Hypersail project team has focused on an open innovation approach and combined multidisciplinary expertise, according to reports from Maranello. Ferrari and its technical partners were involved throughout the entire process. The completion of this first phase marks the end of Giovanni Soldini's involvement in the project. The experienced sailor made a decisive contribution to the development and construction of the boat and to team building right from the start. He brought together nautical, construction and design expertise in a complex programme.
Soldini hands over to Voltolini
"Ferrari Hypersail is a project that requires different expertise in its various development phases," explains John Elkann, Chairman of Ferrari. He thanks Giovanni for the expertise and commitment with which he led the first phase of the project. Soldini himself describes the Ferrari Hypersail project as the result of a shared journey, built day by day through dialogue and collaboration between different areas of expertise. "It was a great privilege for me to be part of this adventure," says Giovanni Soldini.
Designer with America's Cup experience
Enrico Voltolini, who previously worked alongside Giovanni Soldini, is now taking on the role of project manager. The designer and sailor brings experience from the America's Cup and SailGP. His background combines engineering expertise with practical experience on the water, which is in line with the boat's validation requirements. At this stage, the project continues to draw on the expertise of key figures such as Glenn Ashby and Guillaume Verdier, who have been involved in the boat's development from the outset. "I am delighted that Enrico Voltolini is taking responsibility for this new phase of development at Ferrari Hypersail, with the full support of Ferrari and building on Giovanni's experience and advice," says John Elkann.
Research platform for offshore sailing
Ferrari Hypersail continues its journey as a platform for research, development and innovation in offshore sailing. The project aims to explore new frontiers of performance and technology in one of the most extreme and demanding environments. The phase that is now beginning will focus on the technological validation and functional integration of the systems. The change in project management marks the transition from the design phase to the test phase, in which the focus is on practical testing of the 100-foot foiler.
Ferrari goes for it: Wings, wings, wings
The performance booster for the 30 metre long Hypersail project are foils in four versions: Elevator on the single rudder, swivelling T-foils on the curved arms and a horizontal wing at the end of the keel bomb. This, in turn, is part of a canting keel that has never before been seen on full-foil sailboats of this size. This daring and extreme mix of buoyancy aids was the brainchild of Guillaume Verdier. Who else? Like no other, the French designer fuelled the renaissance of hydrofoiling, which has given sailing wings since the 1930s.
With the flood of dynamic attachments, Verdier is once again breaking new ground. T-foils combined with a fixed keel "Flying Nikka" 60 feet in length, the skimming Baltic 111 relies on a fixed keel with Dali foils. "Raven". In the America's Cup, the AC75 racers do not use keels at all in their inshore races. Another hint that Ferrari and Soldini are attracted to the offshore stage is the outrigger rig. A novelty for foilers and familiar from the 60-foot Imocas. They rely on foils in the form of Dali's Moustache and tilting keels, which are in zero position in flight or skimming mode.
Flying without a combustion engine on board
Ferrari's 100-footer is probably very close to the concept that Guillaume Verdier would also like to see for the Vendée Globe. The Imocas would "only" have to be supplemented with foils, so-called elevators, on the rudders in order to take off constantly and for longer periods of time. Unlike the boats of Boris Herrmann and Co, Giovanni Soldini - the 59-year-old Italian has broken numerous offshore records - will not have an internal combustion engine on board. The energy, for example for the hydraulics of the foil arms, is to be generated during the journey, although the first visualisations do not show any turbines for generating electricity. In any case, the keel would provide a harvesting option for a hydrogenerator system that would always remain in the water.
Technology transfer for offshore records
Technology transfer from the world of Ferrari sports cars is to be used in the flight control system, which enables sailors to fly stably and without rodeo interludes over oceans that are constantly in motion. Central to this are sensors that scan the wave pattern ahead and trigger automatic equalising movements of the trim tabs on the foils. Nine nautical patents have already been registered and a further six are currently being drafted. Scuderia carried out aerodynamic and structural calculations to ensure the performance and safety of the monohull foiler.
Hypersail is intended to fly across the world's oceans over long periods of time without stopovers and, as Ferrari calls it, without pit stops or external support of any kind. The iconic car brand and the ocean-going heroe are probably aiming to set offshore records, with a crew and not as part of a fleet. When both foil arms are folded down halfway - which can also provide stability in strong winds in addition to tacking and jibing - the carbon racer has a maximum width of 20 metres. The launch and initial sea trials are scheduled for 2026.
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
