Latest news with #foiling
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Ferrari is building a 100-foot YACHT that can ‘fly' over the water – and it won't have an engine
FERRARI is building a 100ft yacht that is able to "fly" over the water with no engine. The Hypersail project - designed by French naval architect Guillaume Verdier - uses foils to stay afloat rather than fuel. 6 6 6 Underwater wings are installed in the stunning design to lift the boat out of the water, reducing drag and increasing speed and allowing it to "fly". The monohull yacht Hypersail of Ferrari - while sailing - is able to balance itself on three points. One is a foil attached to a special canting keel - a moving part under the yacht that helps it keep upright whilst adding speed at the same time. The second is a foil on the rudder which helps steer the incredible vessel, and the third is one of the two side foils - depending on which direction the boat is turning. The Ferrari boat is to measure 98ft in length, 65.5ft in width and 131ft height - making it the biggest fully foiling monohull to ever exist. And Ferrari has even said it is st to be the first of its size in the world to be entirely energy self-sufficient. No fuel or combustion engine will be used - but it will rely on renewable sources like solar power, wind power and kinetic energy, or even the energy created by the vessel's movement due to the foils. Architect Verdier is behind the design of the incredible vessel, and is responsible for the overall concept of stabilising the boat's flight on the three points of contact. Ferrari is yet to decide what kind of events the Hypersail would be entered for when it's ready, according to Yachting World. The company's chairman John Elkann said: "[The] America's Cup is regulated and this boat is thought to go beyond rules. "This project gives us the chance to experiment in new areas." The Hypersail is currently being built in Italy. Ferrari is hoping to finish the prototype by some point of 2026, After that, it will be taken out on the water for sea trials. These tests will be crucial in understanding how the yacht behaves and how the systems work together. They will also show just how well the vessel can handle long trips using just renewable energy and its foils. 6 6 6
New York Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Move over, Mbappe: SailGP's France franchise gets new investment from Ares Management
Ares Management has taken a minority stake in the France SailGP team, becoming the latest Wall Street player to invest in an up-and-coming global sports league. While financial terms were not disclosed, the deal places Ares alongside a diverse ownership group that includes Kylian Mbappé's Coalition Capital and is led by French Olympian Quentin Delapierre. The France SailGP Team is operated by K-Challenge and backed by Accor, one of the world's largest hospitality brands. Sportsology Capital Partners also joined the team's ownership group with this transaction. Advertisement Ares, a $428 billion alternative investment giant, is no stranger to sports. Its $3.7 billion sports fund has previously invested in the Miami Dolphins, Inter Miami CF, McLaren Racing and Atlético Madrid. The firm's bet on the high-tech, high-speed world of foiling catamarans signals growing investor confidence in SailGP's model, a centralized league shifting rapidly to private franchise ownership. 'SailGP and the France Team have achieved exciting growth in recent years, attracting dedicated fans and viewership, iconic sponsors and experienced owners,' Jim Miller, co-lead of Ares' Sports, Media and Entertainment strategy told The Athletic. He added that the league is 'at an inflection point,' referencing surging viewership and commercial interest. 'We are excited to contribute our financial and strategic support, including leveraging our deep experience in sports investing, to help access additional growth opportunities that will build on the France Team's success.' SailGP, the professional sailing circuit founded in 2019 by Oracle's Larry Ellison and Olympic sailing champion Russell Coutts, pits national teams against each other in custom-built F50 boats capable of hitting speeds as high as 60mph and has made significant inroads with investors over the past 18 months. Last week, Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman took ownership of SailGP's Australian team. Reynolds also holds stakes in Wrexham AFC and the Alpine F1 team. Meanwhile in May, a consortium led by Muse Capital founding partner Assia Grazioli-Venier and including actor Anne Hathaway acquired the Italy SailGP team, at a $45 million valuation. 'Now in our fifth season, we are at an incredibly exciting stage of our journey as a commercially viable global racing championship that's proving we are here to stay,' Andy Thompson, SailGP Managing Director, told The Athletic. According to Thompson, SailGP is currently selling teams in excess of $50 million and is planning on continuing to expand in 2026.
