Ferrari to take to the sea with Hypersail Project

Not content with pushing the limits of performance both on public roads and on track, Ferrari is now turning its attention to the water. The Italian marque has announced an all-new Ferrari Hypersail Project, which will see it working towards the birth of a 100-foot racing yacht meant to push the limits of endurance, performance and technology.

In case you're wondering, you won't find any V8s or V12s powering the Hypersail. Ferrari has stated explicitly that the flying ocean racing monohull prototype is set to be"entirely energy self-sufficient", with "no combustion engine on board". Power will come instead from renewable energy sources including solar, wind and kinetic energy, with all the power required to power it generated autonomously while out at sea. 

Construction of the Hypersail is already underway, with a targeted launch in 2026 before the yacht undergoes initial sea trials

The project will be led by Team Principal and veteran Italian yachtsman, Giovanni Soldini, who brings to the table more than three decades of experience in solo and crewed ocean navigation and competition. The yacht itself, on the other hand, has been designed by French naval architect, Guillaume Verdier.

The team also comprises experienced engineers from Ferrari’s, including Marco Guglielmo Ribigini, who will serve as the Team Leader of Ferrari Hypersail; and the brand’s very own Vehicle Office Director, Matteo Lanzavecchia, who is now leading the project as Chief Technology Officer.

Unsurprisingly, then, Ferrari states that it will tap on its carmaking expertise to help the Hypersail fly through the water. The yacht will incorporate a flight control system that employs aerodynamic and structural calculation processes that enable to slice through the waves for extended periods. In a press conference held in Maranello, speakers for the Hypersail project also stated that the brand hopes for there to be some technology transfer back to its cars. 

Ferrari estimates that the Hypersail - which is already under ocnstructon in Italy - will launch in 2026, before undergoing initial sea trials.