The present invention concerns a Magnus rotor comprising a drive and a control means which controls the drive in such a way that the Magnus rotor attains a peripheral speed which is greater than the mean wind speed by a factor λ. In addition the present invention concerns a method of operating a Magnus rotor comprising a drive which causes the Magnus rotor to rotate, and a control means, as well as a ship. In order better to utilize the action of the Magnus rotor than occurs in the state of the art, λ is greater than 4. In that respect the present invention is based on the realization that the assumption that, above a high-speed factor of four, there would no longer be a significant increase in the lift coefficient, which above all is in relation to the drive power to be used, is based on a technical prejudice. It was possible to empirically ascertain that an increase in the high-speed factor leads to a significantly higher lift coefficient. Accordingly there is also a higher power output from the Magnus rotor.