Ferrari unveils the innovations and design of the Hypersail rig

The new 100ft full foiling Ferrari Hypersail project is unveiled © Ferrari Hypersail

The Ferrari Hypersail team is pleased to unveil the latest design and engineering innovations developed for the rig and sails of Ferrari's oceanic sailboat.

Hypersail, conceived as a research and development platform, has delivered groundbreaking solutions for ocean sailing through collaboration across different disciplines.

With the aim of promoting the most advanced ideas, expertise, practices, and tools, a team was assembled under the coordination of Ferrari's aerodynamicist Panayiotis Agathangelou. The team works closely with North Sails designers and with multiple world champion Glenn Ashby, who brings his experience, vision and insight as both a world-class skipper and designer to the project.

A bold and original concept emerges in the choice of a D-section mast paired with a double skin mainsail, similar to the one developed for the AC75s, but applied here for the first time to ocean racing. To ensure more effective handling, the double skin mainsail will be mounted on cars and tracks, a solution preferred over the traditional luff groove, which would not have allowed for efficient reefing.

"This disruptive choice will allow us to adapt the profile of our mainsail to the wind conditions: we will be able to change the socalled 'camber' of the sail depending on wind angle and strength, which is comparable to having a mainsail with five or six gears instead of two. Thanks to this system, the number of sail changes — which can often be problematic — will be greatly reduced, with clear benefits to the boat's efficiency and performance," said Giovanni Soldini, Team Principal of Ferrari Hypersail. "To make this idea a reality, we collaborated with experts: on one side, those with America's Cup expertise in rig and sail design and use, and on the other, those with vast experience in ocean racing. Once again, bringing together different cultures allowed us to innovate and tackle great challenges."

Since the mast plays a central role in shaping the sails, the mast and sails were designed together as part of a single aerodynamic package. To support the double mainsail, the D-section mast is stepped on a spherical bearing and features a rotation capacity of over 45 degrees to either side.

The integration of Ferrari's aerodynamic development tools with methodologies from the high-performance automotive industry has enabled advanced calculations that shortened design times. At the same time, it provided high-fidelity simulations, that in collaboration with North Sails design software directly informed the aerodynamic solutions adopted, ensuring uncompromising innovation.