A new 130-foot sloop recently ordered by an experienced yachtsman just might become the world’s fastest monohull upwind. Designed by Javier Soto Acebal, the yacht will have water ballast as well as a lifting keel with a trim tab. The movable-ballast/lifting-keel combination was chosen by the Wally research team as the best way to optimize safety margins as well as sailing performance. To allow access to harbors, the lifting keel can reduce draft to 13 feet. There will be a self-tacking jib for cruising, a 110 percent jib for racing, and a deck profile similar to that of a Tripp-designed Wally 143-footer currently under construction.

The yacht is being built at the Wally Europe shipyard in Fano, Italy, in pre-preg carbon.