Ferrari’s decision to venture into ocean racing isn’t as surprising as it might initially seem. The Italian marque has always been focused on pushing boundaries, whether that’s on the asphalt of Le Mans or now, across the world’s oceans. With the Hypersail project, Ferrari is channeling decades of automotive expertise into what could be the most technically ambitious sailing yacht ever conceived. Borrowing heavily from the company’s hypercars, it’s a 100-foot monohull that promises to redefine what we thought was possible in renewable energy-powered ocean racing.
Racing DNA Meets Naval Architecture
Ferrari’s approach to the Hypersail centers around Giovanni Soldini, the legendary Italian sailor whose resume reads like an adventure novel. With over 40 trans-ocean races under his belt and a knack for breaking long-standing speed records, Soldini brings the kind of real-world experience that Ferrari’s engineers needed to understand what actually works when you’re thousands of miles from the nearest port.
The yacht itself comes from the drawing board of Guillaume Verdier, the French naval architect behind some of the fastest monohulls ever made. Verdier’s breakthrough here is the innovative canting keel system, which is essentially a movable appendage beneath the hull that acts as one of three foiling contact points, in effect reimagining how large sailing yachts can achieve sustained flight over water.
Connecting to the brand’s automotive tech, Ferrari’s hypercar team is directly involved in everything from conception to testing. The flight control systems that keep the Hypersail stable during foiling operation draw directly from Ferrari’s expertise in aerodynamics and real-time vehicle dynamics management.
The Energy Challenge
As we said, this 100-foot yacht will operate entirely on renewable energy, and with no backup engine. Everything from the foil control systems to the onboard computers must be powered by solar, wind, and kinetic energy generated during sailing.
This presents an engineering challenge that goes well beyond typical yacht design. Ferrari’s team has had to optimize every single component for energy efficiency while maintaining the kind of performance you’d expect from a vessel designed to break ocean records. The energy management system needs to be smart enough to balance power consumption across all systems while ensuring there’s enough reserve capacity to handle the unexpected conditions that ocean racing inevitably throws at you.
The fact that Ferrari has already filed nine patents related to this project, with six more in development, is evidence for how much original thinking has gone into solving these problems, creating entirely new solutions for challenges that haven’t been tackled at this scale before.
The three-point foiling system is also highly unique. Unlike traditional foiling yachts that rely on lateral foils, the Hypersail uses its canting keel as a primary lifting surface, with additional support from rudder and lateral foils. This configuration allows for more stable flight characteristics while maintaining the ability to generate power through the yacht’s motion, preventing you from wasting any wattage along the way.
Still a Ferrari
The Hypersail’s design philosophy mirrors what we’ve come to expect from Ferrari’s road cars, with relentless focus on both aesthetic appeal and functional performance. Every curve of the yacht’s sleek profile has been optimized for aerodynamic efficiency, drawing directly from Ferrari’s experience with their hypercar program.
The construction is happening entirely in Italy, with about 90% of components being built in the same Maranello facility that produces Ferrari’s road cars, allowing for a level of quality control that will appease the most fervent fans of the company’s vehicles.
Spec Sheet
Model: Ferrari Hypersail
Length: 100ft
Design: Foiling monohull with canting keel
Power Source: 100% renewable (solar, wind, kinetic)
Foiling System: Three-point contact (canting keel, rudder, lateral foils)
Designer: Guillaume Verdier
Construction: Italy (Maranello facility)
Launch Date: 2026
Pricing & Availability
Ferrari hasn’t disclosed pricing for the Hypersail, which is currently a prototype used to hone R&D before any production starts. The vessel is scheduled for launch in 2026, with initial sea trials beginning shortly after. Given the level of technology and the custom nature of this project, this appears to be a one-off development platform, for now at least. However, don’t be surprised if it eventually leads to consumer products down the line.
Recap
Ferrari Hypersail
Ferrari utilizes its hypercar expertise to design a 100% renewable-energy monohull racing yacht, designed with the help of naval architect Guillaume Verdier and Italian sailor Giovanni Soldini.
