Ferrari unveils the first photos of its V12-powered boat… but one designed to fly

Ferrari is best known for its V12 engines, supercars, and racing victories. Yet the Italian automaker is about to take on a very different challenge: making a sailboat fly above the water! After unveiling the ambitions of its Hypersail project a few months ago, the Prancing Horse brand is unveiling the first photos of its boat, currently under construction. And the result is already spectacular.

The Ferrari boat is taking shape

Announced several months ago, the Ferrari Hypersail project has reached a major milestone. This 100-foot monohull—approximately 30 meters long—is now entering its final phase of construction. In the first photos released by Ferrari, we see a massive boat sitting in a shipyard, surrounded by scaffolding. Its hull is now fully painted and sports its final livery, combining the historic Giallo Fly yellow with a dark shade called Grigio Hypersail. At the stern, the famous prancing horse immediately reminds us that this boat is not quite like any other. But behind its futuristic appearance lies, above all, a particularly ambitious technology.

How Ferrari Plans to Make Its Boat Fly

Because yes, Hypersail is designed to literally rise above the water! It’s not about taking off like an airplane, but rather using foils—those submerged wings that lift the hull as the boat picks up speed. Ferrari has just unveiled new details about this system. The side foils provide lift, while the keel also incorporates a wing equipped with a movable flap. Even the rudder helps control the boat through constant, minute adjustments. The entire system is managed by an electronic system called «Flight Control.» Directly inspired by Ferrari’s automotive expertise, this “brain” continuously analyzes the wind, waves, speed, and the boat’s angle of heel.

Sensors transmit data to an onboard computer, which then controls various actuators to automatically correct the sailboat’s trim. The goal? To keep Hypersail stable on the water, even when conditions become challenging. The crew obviously still plays a role, but this allows them to focus more on strategy and performance.

Carbon fiber, titanium, and more than 20 patents

As with its sports cars, Ferrari places great emphasis on weight and rigidity. The monocoque uses multiple layers of carbon fiber, while certain areas subject to particularly high stress combine carbon fiber and titanium.

The manufacturer also reports that more than 20 patents have resulted from the project. Among the innovations are a winch control system called «Winch by Wire,» a rotating mast equipped with fins, and a double-walled mainsail. And unlike a traditional Ferrari, Hypersail has no internal combustion engine. Its power comes from renewable sources, including solar, wind, and kinetic energy.

A testing ground for future Ferraris?

Behind this nautical project lies an automotive goal as well. The simulations, electronic systems, and control technologies developed for Hypersail could expand the knowledge of the engineers in Maranello and, ultimately, benefit future Ferraris.

For now, the boat hasn’t set sail yet. Its appendages have just arrived at the shipyard, and its construction is gradually nearing completion. Now we just have to wait and see how this amazing Ferrari performs once it’s out on the ocean. After teaching its cars to go faster and faster, Maranello now wants to make its prancing horse fly over the waves!