Ferrari Hypersail names Giulia Conti and Shannon Falcone as first crew for its 100-foot foiling monohull
Ferrari Hypersail has signed Giulia Conti and Shannon Falcone as the first crew of its 100-foot full-foiling monohull, joining project leader Enrico Voltolini.
- 100-foot full-foiling monohull
- 4
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- World and European champion in the 49er FX
What Happened
Ferrari Hypersail has announced the first members of its Sailing Team, calling it a key milestone in the project's journey. Giulia Conti and Shannon Falcone will join Project Leader Enrico Voltolini in sea trials and the future racing program for the 100-foot full-foiling monohull. The project is built for records and offshore racing and demands a highly versatile crew. The selected sailors bring a mix of engineering vision, high-performance racing experience and the ability to manage complex systems.
- Enrico Voltolini - Project Leader: oversees sporting development, crew formation and alignment between sea operations and the Maranello center, acting as the bridge between the sailing team and the engineering and design team.
- Giulia Conti - Flight Development, Navigation and Automation: manages flight systems and on-board automation and plans and coordinates simulator and sea trials.
- Shannon Falcone - On Water Operations and Safety Management: part of the onboard crew and also helps coordinate the shore team, with a focus on at-sea operations and safety procedures.
“With Ferrari Hypersail we are taking on a challenge that has never been attempted before in the world of sailing. Pushing a boat with these characteristics to peak performance requires much more than talent at the helm or during maneuvers: it takes nautical intelligence and the ability to manage unprecedented technology for the open ocean. Giulia and Shannon represent exactly this and embody what we are seeking with Hypersail: their expertise and versatility are fundamental to the team we are building.”
“Being part of Ferrari Hypersail is an incredible challenge: it means helping chart a new course for sailing. My goal is to bring my experience to the Team to ensure that technology does not replace human intuition, but rather empowers the sailors to push the boat to its absolute maximum potential in every situation.”
“Ocean sailing requires rigorous organization, constant preparation and the application of the highest safety standards. The synergy between the shore team and the onboard crew is not just operational support, but the fundamental prerequisite that allows the monohull to express its full potential at sea.”
Beyond racing execution, the sailors will play a crucial role in fine-tuning the boat through a continuous process of data collection, testing and on-board validation that is essential to guide the technical team's work. Voltolini's role will be vital in translating the data and insights gathered during sea trials into actionable information for the boat's technical evolution. Conti's role is driven by her expertise in interpreting the boat's dynamic behavior and contributing to the evolution of the electronic control systems. Falcone's deep knowledge of maritime dynamics will guide the drafting of the operational procedures needed to handle the vessel during its most delicate and complex phases.
Why this matters
Ferrari's Hypersail project enters a new phase with its first crew members named for a 100-foot full-foiling monohull built for records and offshore racing. The sailors are expected not just to race: they collect data, test and validate systems at sea and feed Ferrari's technical team in Maranello. Their experience in flight systems, automation and ocean safety will shape how quickly the yacht develops.
Terms in This Story
- monohull
- A sailing boat with a single hull, as opposed to a multihull such as a catamaran or trimaran.
- foiling
- Using underwater wings called hydrofoils to lift the hull clear of the water, cutting drag and raising speed.
- America's Cup
- A long-established international sailing competition contested by teams representing yacht clubs.
- offshore racing
- Long-distance racing across open sea, rather than short courses close to the coast.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.