24/07/2026
COVER STORY | wallyrocket51
The wallyrocket51, Wally's new 50-foot yacht, is one of the most recent and radical interpretations of contemporary racing sailing. The project stems from a collaboration with Botin Partners, with the direct involvement of Vasco Vascotto and Luca Bassani, and is dedicated to developing a high-performance platform for pure racing.
The boat's design is extremely advanced, based on low displacement and extensive use of carbon for the hull and deck. Every construction choice is geared towards reducing weight and controlling the structure, with highly monitored production processes and oven polymerisation cycles ensuring precision and consistency.
From a technical standpoint, the wallyrocket51 integrates solutions typically found in next-generation racing yachts, such as a deep keel with a 3,000 kg lead bulb, an electric trim tab and a rapid water ballast management system designed to optimise trim and stability while sailing. The deck is organised to maintain a dry and efficient working environment, with all manoeuvres concentrated and managed directly.
The first sailings in Valencia in light winds demonstrated highly efficient performance with speeds consistently exceeding the wind speed, as well as an excellent ability to close the hauled angle. This data confirms the project's mission to maximise efficiency and speed, even in marginal conditions.
This is a boat that fits perfectly into the new generation of high-level racers, where the line between engineering, handling sensitivity and pure performance is becoming increasingly blurred.
Text by Niccolò Volpati
photo by Gilles Martin Raget
