Wally presents the new wallyrocket71
The 21-meter racing yacht designed by Botin Partners for owner Giovanni Lombardi Stronati has been unveiled. Her racing debut is at the Loro Piana Giraglia.
The first Wallyrocket 71 will be unveiled at the 2025 Loro Piana Giraglia, a project by Botin Partners and built by the King Marine shipyard in collaboration with owner Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. The new model features twin rudders, a high-performance bulb keel, and 2,7 tons of liquid ballast. It is slightly shorter than the Maxi 72s and approximately two tons lighter due to its smaller keel and slightly lower mast. The only heavier element compared to its competitors is the liquid ballast, approximately 35% heavier. The onboard systems allow the 2,7 tons of water to be transferred from one side to the other in approximately six seconds, making turns quick and efficient. During initial tests, the boat easily reached 10,5-11 knots upwind, often managing to exceed the wind speed at its tail.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the owner, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, whose faith in this ambitious vision from day one has made everything possible,” said Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group. “A heartfelt thanks also goes to Botin Partners for their cutting-edge design, to King Marine for their exceptional construction expertise, and to the best of the best: our Wally team for their tireless passion and unparalleled expertise. With the wallyrocket71, Wally is ushering in an exciting new chapter in competitive sailing, launching a yacht designed to be among the fastest in its class. This is not just a new yacht, but a true statement of intent, a leap forward that once again underscores our deep commitment to innovation, performance, and design excellence. As the old saying goes: the pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the winner adjusts the sails. With the wallyrocket71, Wally is not just adjusting the sails, but also adjusting the sails. sails – change the rules of the race”.
"We started from a blank page, asking ourselves how to beat the most competitive Maxi 72s on corrected time," explained Carrau of Botin Partners. "At the time, those designs were constrained by a box rule, with many parameters already defined. Now, with optimization under the IRC rules, there's much more freedom."
Tactician Vasco Vascotto added, “After my experience with the Wallyrocket 51, sailing Django is truly exciting. She's our big sister: incredibly light and fast, with 2.700 liters of liquid ballast and a displacement of just 12 tons. After a few days at sea, I'm truly impressed by the build quality and performance. The future of this type of boat is promising. We'll be on the start line at the Loro Piana Giraglia, then the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, and finally at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez to close out the season.”
Guillermo Parada, strategist for the wallyrocket71, Django concludes by explaining, “The wallyrocket71 project began about a year and a half ago with the goal of competing with 72-footers in the Maxi Worlds. We developed a boat about 3 tons lighter than its main competitors, while maintaining similar power and sail area. After the first few days of sailing in Valencia, performance is in line with expectations: it's a complex and high-performance boat that requires careful management but delivers great excitement. Now we're preparing for the Giraglia, with the goal of putting this project to the test, led by an expert team and supported by an ideal environment.”
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