On Wednesday, Ferrari revealed that it is entering the sailing scene with a new project called Hypersail. This initiative, led by Italian sailor Giovanni Soldini, aims to combine racing heritage with cutting-edge technology.
French naval architect Guillaume Verdier has designed the world’s first 100-foot monohull ocean racing yacht with a foil on its keel. It is currently being constructed in a secret location in Italy, with plans for it to launch in 2026.
Ferrari Chairman John Elkann stated, “It perfectly fits with Ferrari’s heritage, taking inspiration from our Hypercar, which has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times.”
He added, “Creating a yacht for offshore racing is probably the best way to show endurance.”
Ferrari is known as the most glamorous and historic team in Formula 1, having been part of the championship since it began in 1950. Recently, their success has come from Le Mans, where they have triumphed in the last three races.
Ferrari mentioned that this prototype yacht will have three contact points to keep it stable while flying. It will also feature a canting keel to support one of the foils and will be the first yacht globally to be completely energy self-sufficient.
Elkann dismissed any plans to participate in an America’s Cup challenge since the next edition will take place in Naples in 2027. He explained, “[The] America’s Cup is governed by rules, and this boat aims to go beyond those limits. This project allows us to explore new possibilities.”
Ferrari did not provide specific details about the project’s cost, but Chief Financial Officer Antonio Picca Piccon mentioned that the investment is planned and will not significantly affect capital spending.
“The boat will be launched next year, and then we will enter a testing phase that we hope won’t take too long,” Soldini shared during a news conference at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello.
“It’s clear that we have a set deadline, but since the project is very complex, announcing it publicly right now doesn’t seem like a good idea.
“There are many factors to consider. We will definitely get the boat in the water by 2026, but I can’t promise which quarter.”
Soldini, who has over 30 years of experience in solo and team ocean competitions, including two solo round-the-world races, stated that the goal is to keep the crew size as small as possible, ideally between eight and twelve members.
Ferrari announced that 20 people are working full-time on the project, while another 80 to 90 are also involved. They will use some technology from their sports car division, mainly from the F80 supercar that was revealed last October.
Elkann and Soldini did not share any details about which competitions the flying monohull might participate in.
“Before we set any competition goals, we want to complete our work on developing the boat and get it out on the water. After that, we’ll figure out what is possible and what isn’t,” said Soldini.
