Ferrari Hypersail equipped with three wind turbines and 100 meters of solar panels

Ferrari Luce is already sold out, and Ferrari Hypersail is set to become the innovation in marine technology of 2027, when it will be launched in March in Livorno. From there, it will begin to “fly” — literally — over ocean waves at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Renewable energy is a key focus: in the coming months, three wind turbines and 100 square meters of solar panels, along with highly efficient cells, will be installed on the surface of Hypersail. The innovative hull was completed recently.

Ferrari Hypersail, the full foiling boat that reaches 100 km/h

Conceived and presented in Maranello, Ferrari Hypersail has now arrived in Livorno, where this 100-foot full foiling monohull project designed for ocean sailing has found its new operational hub within the facilities of Azimut Yachts. It represents a synergy between Italy’s and the world’s finest maritime innovations.

But what does full foiling mean? It means the boat sails completely lifted out of the water, supported by foils—submerged appendages that generate lift, which is the force created when water flows around the foil pushing it upward (or in some useful direction), allowing the foils to lift the boat out of the water—so the hull does not touch the water during high-speed travel. The consequences are interesting: hydrodynamic resistance is drastically reduced, and the boat can reach extremely high speeds. With Hypersail, speeds of 100 km/h are achievable.

The energy comes from solar panels — technicians speak of 20 kW — and three wind turbines, but the drive for high-speed navigation comes from sails, and the numbers are impressive: a mast 35.5 meters tall and 462 square meters of sail area.

Hypersail, Ferrari’s (electric) sailing boat, has some lighting on board.

Compared to automotive racing, the competitive challenge doesn’t end after a few hours; it keeps sailors and athletes striving at top speed for weeks on end. Under extreme conditions: the Hypersail cockpit is a tiny, enclosed capsule designed to protect sailors when the boat travels at 100 km/h on the open ocean.

Batteries supply energy generated by sunlight and wind, along with the muscular effort of the athletes.

Deck-based movements, such as adjusting the sails, involve the direct conversion of human-generated power through the innovative Winch by Wire system. Those below deck, like the movements of components needed to ensure active flight control, are instead managed using energy recovered from renewable sources, with high-voltage batteries installed to handle the dynamics of energy flows.

"Hypersail is the first flying monohull for oceanic competitions to be completely energy self-sufficient – notes Marco Guglielmo Ribigini, Technical Team Leader of Ferrari Hypersail. Thanks to an electrical system that ensures the perfect balance between efficiency and performance, along with innovative solutions such as Winch by Wire, all onboard adjustments are made using energy generated during navigation."

Livorno hub as a technological laboratory

The Livorno facility will house the project team’s offices, engineers’ spaces, and the shore team, as well as gyms and areas dedicated to athletic training. There will also be specialized laboratories for hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical components, along with spaces for 3D printing. A true research center.

The facility provides direct access to the Tyrrhenian Sea, offering a wide range of marine conditions essential for conducting structured and continuous testing campaigns. Additionally, its proximity to Maranello is crucial for seamless knowledge exchange with Ferrari’s various engineering and design departments that support the project’s technological development.

Enrico Voltolini, Project Leader of Ferrari Hypersail. “Having access to such a strategic location on the Tyrrhenian Sea, valuable for both technical and athletic preparation as well as sea trials, while remaining close to Maranello, provides us with the ideal conditions to further accelerate our innovation process.”

As a technical partner, Azimut Yachts will develop a custom Azimut Fly 72 that will accompany Ferrari Hypersail during testing and offshore operations. The vessel will be used to support Ferrari Hypersail’s hull during initial flight tests and, subsequently, to provide assistance and monitoring during outings, also serving as a hospitality boat.

The collaboration between these two iconic brands and the emphasis on renewable energy represent a significant technological challenge with far-reaching implications for the entire sustainable marine industry.

The partnership with ABB for a boat powered entirely by renewables

Ferrari Hypersail has established a technological partnership with ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation (see our webinar here), which brings “over 25 years of experience in DC technologies and advanced power systems” to the project. Energy management is at the core of Hypersail’s development. ABB will support the project in areas such as marine power supply, DC technology, smart energy management, and advanced electrical systems to maximize the performance and resilience of on-board renewable energy systems in extreme oceanic conditions.

Beyond competition, research indicates a high-performance development and testing environment for technologies that «could shape next-generation power systems in various sectors, including maritime, data centers, and renewable energy infrastructure».

Enrico Voltolini emphasizes: «Hypersail operates entirely on energy from renewable sources. It must remain self-sufficient for weeks in the harshest oceanic environments on Earth. Having ABB’s expertise in electrification is a valuable operational advantage». It is both a technological and a sporting challenge.

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