Giulia Conti and Shannon Falcone join the Ferrari Hypersail project with Enrico Voltolini
by Ferrari Hypersail 21 Sep 02:23 PDT
Enrico Voltolini - Project Leader © Ferrari Hypersail
Ferrari Hypersail marks a key milestone in its journey, announcing the first Sailing Team members who will participate in sea trials and the future racing program for the 100-foot full-foiling monohull.
Alongside Project Leader Enrico Voltolini, two leading figures from the sailing world join the Team: Giulia Conti - World and European Champion, as well as winning helmswoman of the Women's America's Cup - and Shannon Falcone - a high-profile sailor with extensive experience spanning offshore racing and major competitions, including six America's Cup campaigns and several ocean records.
Hypersail's competitive and technological challenge, built for records and offshore racing, demands a highly versatile crew. The selected members bring a unique mix of skills on board: a solid engineering vision, high-performance racing experience and the ability to manage complex systems. Furthermore, beyond racing execution, the sailors will play a crucial role in fine-tuning the boat: a continuous process of data collection, testing and on-board validation that is essential to guide the technical team's work.
"With Ferrari Hypersail we are taking on a challenge that has never been attempted before in the world of sailing," comments Voltolini. "Pushing a boat with these characteristics to peak performance requires much more than talent at the helm or during manoeuvrers: 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."
Enrico Voltolini | Project Leader
As Project Leader, Enrico Voltolini will oversee the sporting development of the project, crew formation and alignment between sea operations and the Maranello centre. His role will be vital in translating the data and insights gathered during sea trials into actionable information for the boat's technical evolution, acting as the primary point of contact and bridge between the sailing team and the engineering and design team.
Giulia Conti | Flight Development, Navigation and Automation
Giulia Conti boasts a career at the top tier of world sailing, crowned by four Olympic appearances as a helmswoman, the 2015 World and European titles in the 49er FX and victory at the helm of the inaugural Women's America's Cup in 2024. Hers will be a key role in navigation development and integrating the crew with the monohull. She will be responsible for managing flight systems and on-board automation, as well as planning and coordinating simulator and sea trials. An integration driven by her specific expertise in interpreting the boat's dynamic behaviour and contributing to the evolution of the electronic control systems.
"Being part of Ferrari Hypersail is an incredible challenge: it means helping chart a new course for sailing," said Conti. "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."
Shannon Falcone | On Water Operations and Safety Management
Shannon Falcone boasts an exceptional career spanning offshore racing and high-performance sailing: six America's Cup campaigns, victories and race records in the Sydney-Hobart, Transpac and Newport-Bermuda races aboard the Maxi Comanche, along with the historic and still-unbeaten New York - The Lizard transatlantic record.
Falcone, who brings significant operational experience and a profound understanding of sailing dynamics in complex conditions to the project, will not only be part of the onboard crew but will also help coordinate the shore team, with a specific focus on at-sea operations and defining safety procedures. His deep knowledge of maritime dynamics will guide the drafting of the essential operational procedures required to handle the vessel during its most delicate and complex phases.
"Ocean sailing requires rigorous organisation, constant preparation and the application of the highest safety standards," adds Falcone. "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".