And so, it begins…
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 21 Sep 2025 23:00 BST
The incredible Ferrari Hypersail © Ferrrari Hypersail
Maybe a tad earlier than last year, which I think was after the Grand Final, but the 100th entrant seemed like a good place to set things off. Now with that said, Sail-World’s Hobart coverage begins.
In addition to all of that, 1 and 100 have always been the magic numbers. One hull. One hundred feet (and a prodder). Superyachts. Banned. The exquisite maxi Tris. Banned. In fact, all multis. Banned. Full-Foilers. Banned. Skimmers. Banned. But for how long? They have the capacity to change the rules, and going from 98 feet to 100 springs to mind instantly, so the question remains, do they have the appetite? 2025 could well see the skimmers (or part of that family) get in, BTW.
The great races, from The Fastnet to the Middle Sea, Newport to Bermuda, and Cape Town to Rio take in many, if not all of the categories listed above. Bar one of the bucket list, that is. Hobart. In 2025 it turns 80. Will we have to wait until it gets to one hundred years before it is opened up? Maybe. Naturally, rumours run amuck as to what could be happening right now, as it turns out.
At any rate, there are many passionate souls inside the inner sanctum that insist on the Hobart’s heritage, and always point to the fact that you can name the winner each year, because there is just the one. Even though, of course, there are actually two annually (only the one year missed from memory), and they are Line Honours and Overall (calculated under IRC for now).
There are 60-footers all airborne (Flying Nikka), and the foil-assisted Raven at 111 feet, but one craft begs the question probably more than any other. Ferrari Hypersail. Announced only back at the end of June she is 100 feet and up, up, and away. A canting keel screamer, with elevators protruding from the bulb, as well as the base of the rudder, and T-Foils with what are effectively ailerons, as well as deck spreaders. Wings. Spoliers. Ground effect. Active suspension. Throw the lot at it. So, well, yes. Bring it on. Even Enzo would be proud of this one. Could Hypersail be the new and very much prized Omologato? Every chance she will join 250 and 288…
For me, one thing really stood out in this week’s announcements, however. The D-section mast rotates through a full 90 degrees. It was designed in conjunction with North Sails double luff main, and the other rags. Not that it will need many, for an apparent wind machine like this is all about reduction in drag than it is about horsepower.
The other thing was just how much the hull looked like and AC75. The distinct keel line being a big part of that, as too decksweeper sails, slab topsides, and aero everything! Probably why the name of Ferrari’s aerodynamicist, Panayiotis Agathangelou, is given for being the instigator of the team’s assembly.
Pretty? Matter for the beholder, but brutal, purposeful, and sporting a looooooong bow that reminds you of any great, front engine, 12-cylinder coupé, and the mast is so far stepped aft as to make even the magnificent Comanche look like an ILCA (she is 11 years old now BTW).
Back to that double luff, and their own material naturally references the AC75s. Now in 2021 I got a lot of help from good friends in preparing, The America's Cup from the armchair..., which looked at single element over twin, drag, flow, slot, camber, centre of effort, and then how that pertains to righting moment (leverage). Certainly, that’s propellerhead stuff, but my how the lessons of then have been learned.
No word as yet as to whether the mast is rotating to windward or leeward to ‘straighten’ or add camber to the respective skins. Going back even further (Jan 2019) It’s all about wings (again)… will give you the full schmear on the hows and whys of that particular aspect. Equally, no discussion above significant wave height has been had, as yet, but this is one crucial element in the mix, too.
Yes. I am very addicted to what this all means from an innovation and technology POV. We also get to throw sustainability around, and that gets ticks from everyone. Ferrari Hypersail seem very committed, and in addition to Giovanni Soldini, there is one Glenn Ashby in the team, as well.
I like how reefing is therefore very much simplified, by virtue of changing shape quickly, and of course, the trysail can be carried inside all set to go, so drop the cars on their tracks and you’re set to keep on trucking, which at these sorts of speeds is critical. In the 2024 Hobart we saw just how much damage hard charging can do – RIP our fellow sailors.
With the Ferrari Hypersail, sail changing, or the lack thereof, is faster and safer. A Ferrari car is famous for the gated shift, and that distinct ‘clink’ as you arrive in the new one, combined with your head nestling into the headrest that little bit more. There are six distinct slots to the gearboxes in their cars, and you might say the main on the Hypersail has about the same (but no reverse, thank God). You’ll have to double de clutch on the way down, but just like the early Scandinavian rally drivers there is every chance you’ll be able to simply straight shift to go up.
Exciting stuff. From designers to sailors, this is going to be a party.
Please enjoy your yachting, stay safe, and thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor