BOLD THINKING – THE NEW WALLYROCKET ’51 AND 71′ DESIGNS

– Jan 27th 2026

L​​​​​​​ aunched just last year, both the wallyrocket51 and the wallyrocket71 have proven themselves as ultra-light racing machines, shifting the design paradigm in monohull grand prix racing. They demonstrate that it’s possible to combine thrilling, high-speed sailing with consistent success under both IRC and ORC ratings.

Vittorio Blengini, sales director of the custom business for the Ferretti Group, a passionate sailor himself, explains “Wally has always produced unique yachts. With the wallyrocket51 and wallyrocket71 we’ve revitalised the racing spirit that has been part of Wally’s DNA since the beginning”.

wallyrocket51′

The wallyrocket51 project began in early 2022, following a call from Vasco Vascotto together with Guillermo Parada as consultants for Wally Yachts and the Ferretti Group. They were seeking a fresh concept for a new one-design racer that could also be highly competitive under both IRC and ORC rating systems.

It quickly became clear that the conventional path wasn’t particularly exciting, and Wally’s philosophy is to always be “20 years ahead.” This opened the door to take risks and think boldly. We reversed our approach entirely, opting instead to go one foot shorter. That allowed us to gain valuable rating credits and reinvest them in high-performance features.

‘We designed this yacht to be truly all-round,’ says Adolfo Carrau. ‘She’s engineered and optimised to perform across a wide range of weather conditions and race formats, including offshore events. And like any light, powerful raceboat, she’ll be huge fun to drive downwind in a blow!’

Designing a pure raceboat while staying true to Wally’s philosophy was a real balancing act between two worlds. On one hand, it had to deliver uncompromising performance. On the other hand innovation and aesthetics, cornerstones of Wally’s identity, could not be sacrificed. Design therefore played a crucial role, not only visually but also functionally.

Every style choice serves a purpose: reducing weight, optimising surfaces and continuing to express the innovative spirit that defines the brand. Though its DNA is resolutely race-oriented, the wallyrocket51 still bears all the hallmarks of the Wally family.

Guille Parada doesn’t hide his enthusiasm: “It is a boat with its own DNA, designed specifically fow owner-drivers, carrying a more generous sail plan and packing in all the latest innovations”

After her first full season, it is clear that the wallyrocket51 has delivered on her opwn promise: a design capable of being companitive under all rating systems while offering maximum flexibility. Fast forward to November 2025, three wallyrockets have been successfully launched and three more are under construction.

wallyrocket71′

At the 2025 Loro Piana Giraglia, the same team behind the wallyrocket51 unveiled her bigger sister, Giovanni Lombardi’s 71-footer Django 7X . While the 51 is planned as a small production series, the wallyrocket71 is a true Grand Prix one-off, built to order. Entering both the coastal races in St Tropez and the offshore Giraglia just 10 days after launch, the new yacht was fine-tuned on the fly – and went on to win the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship in Porto Cervo that September, against a strongfleet of similar boats. That was followed by victory at Les Voiles de St. Tropez.