Ferrari takes to the seas with solar- and wind-powered racing yacht

Ferrari is extending its automotive technology to the sea. The Italian automaker unveiled an energy management concept for its ocean racing yacht project, the Ferrari HyperSail, which harnesses renewable energy and crew-generated power to run the vessel.

Ferrari presented the HyperSail's onboard energy system Sunday at its headquarters in Maranello, Italy. The HyperSail is an offshore racing yacht built for long-distance open-ocean sailing, combining a full-foiling structure — which uses underwater hydrofoils to lift the hull clear of the water — with a single-hull monohull design.

The concept centers on energy self-sufficiency. The system converts power from renewable sources such as solar and wind, as well as energy generated directly by the crew, into electricity to run the yacht. Ferrari describes the project as an effort to bring the electrification and control technology it has developed on racing circuits and public roads into offshore sailing.

Marco Guglielmo Rivizzigno, technical team leader for the Ferrari HyperSail, said the yacht is "the first foiling monohull for ocean racing to achieve complete energy self-sufficiency," adding that "thanks to an electrical system that guarantees the ideal balance between efficiency and performance, and innovative solutions such as winch-by-wire, all the controls on board operate exclusively on energy generated during navigation."

On deck, the winch-by-wire system plays a central role. On a conventional yacht, a winch is driven mechanically — a crew member turns a handle to operate a mechanical gearbox or hydraulic circuit directly. The HyperSail replaces that process with electrical signals and managed energy flow.

Power generated when a crew member turns a handle is immediately converted into electrical energy. That electricity is pooled in a central power network and distributed in real time to various deck functions, including sail trimming. The approach applies by-wire technology familiar from automotive engineering — replacing mechanical linkages with electronic control — to the yacht's sail control system.

The system is also designed to reduce crew fatigue. In a conventional setup, greater resistance slows the crew member's rotation and demands more physical effort. The HyperSail's winch-by-wire system, by contrast, is engineered to maintain a constant crank speed, enabling stable power output.

Ferrari said the system allows a single crew member to control loads of up to 9 metric tons. Electricity generated at the pedal axle feeds into the vessel's power network and drives hydraulic pumps that operate sail-trimming winches and deck adjustment devices. The electric motors used in the process are the same type fitted to the active suspension systems of the Ferrari Purosangue and F80.

The HyperSail's winch solution also draws on the by-wire approach applied in the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale — preserving the feel of mechanical operation while transferring actual control to electronic signals. Ferrari has reinterpreted that electronic-control expertise for the marine environment.

Below deck, a system manages the yacht's flight attitude and stability. Electronics, sensors, hydraulic systems, batteries and control units are integrated to govern ride height on the foils and overall vessel movement. The electrical architecture spans four voltage levels, from 12V to 800V.

HyperSail engineers developed an active flight controller system to manage the ancillary devices. The system is divided into low-speed actuation and high-speed actuation. Low-speed actuation handles large movements such as the foil arms and canting keel, while high-speed actuation manages the rapid movement of control surfaces and flaps.

Low-speed actuation uses an 800V rear electric axle of the same type found in the Ferrari Luce. High-speed actuation relies on two compact pumps driven by 48V electric motors. The split-function design is intended to deliver performance, energy efficiency and emergency response capability simultaneously.

Solar and wind are the primary power sources. The HyperSail is designed to run its electronics and hydraulic systems on renewable energy, with surplus electricity stored in two 800V batteries and distributed to onboard systems as needed.

The wind energy system is located at the stern. The structure allows a wind turbine to be fitted or removed depending on sailing conditions. Ferrari said it conducted precise analysis of air intake angles and installation positions to maximize power generation efficiency while minimizing aerodynamic drag at high speeds.

The HyperSail project is being developed under Ferrari's open innovation strategy. It also serves as a testing ground for battery, electrification, electronic control and aerodynamic technologies the company has built up in motorsport, now applied to the new environment of offshore racing. Through the HyperSail, Ferrari aims to extend the reach of its high-performance mobility technology beyond the road.