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  • Gitana 18
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    • Retractable Y-shaped foils, adjustable in three dimensions

    Inspired by the appendages of the America's Cup foiling monohulls, these Y-shaped foils have a wingspan of over 5 metres. They are designed to generate powerful lift, increase power and offer a wide range of adjustments to optimise flight at every point of sail and in all conditions. Beyond their impressive size, these foils feature many unique innovations.

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    Revolutionary U-shaped rudders

    These are probably the most visually striking innovations on the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. To fly high above rough seas while maintaining control, the team wanted very long rudders that would remain in contact with the water. The challenge is that longer rudders tend to flex under load, severely affecting steering and the efficiency of their lifting surfaces. A new geometry was needed to give these appendages maximum stiffness, resist cavitation and ultimately improve control of the boat and make better use of its power. The result is a set of U-shaped rudders over 4 metres long, a metre longer than those on Gitana 17. Their shape, reminiscent of a tripod or an inverted π, is only the visible part of what makes them so distinctive.

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    A daggerboard optimised to stabilise the boat and limit cavitation

    With its wide span, the daggerboard resembles an aircraft tail assembly, with two adjustable flaps: one on the vertical section and the other on the horizontal section, the distinctive “manta-ray wing”. On Gitana 18, the innovation is to position this wing behind the vertical part of the appendage, rather than directly beneath it, to minimise flow disturbance and cavitation.

    Gitana 18’s daggerboard

    Rig: adjustable spreaders to control mainsail power while sailing

    Gitana 18’s mast is 1.50 metres taller than its predecessor’s. The boom is also shorter, creating a more slender sail plan. The major innovation is a set of spreaders that can be adjusted while sailing to bend the mast fore and aft. Actuated by hydraulic rams, these spreaders can pivot through 35 degrees to adjust the bend in the middle of the mast. This unprecedented system allows the sailor to control mainsail power: adding depth in light winds to take off sooner, or flattening the sail to reduce power at high speed or in strong winds. Adjusting the depth, and therefore the power, of the mainsail can also save a solo sailor time and energy by reducing the need for risky manoeuvres or headsail changes.

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    Central hull:
    an integrated, structural coachroof

    The naval architects and Gitana design team wanted an exceptionally stiff, structurally robust platform. This applies both to the floats, which must withstand heavy loads from the foils and rudders, and to the central hull, which is subject to torsion. The enclosed coachroof is integrated into the hull and contributes to its structural strength. Inside, the cockpit brings all sail-handling controls together, with ergonomics shaped by many hours of design and development. The coachroof also stands out for the number and size of its windows. This configuration meets the visibility requirements of the Ultim class rules and gives sailors the best possible view to keep a visual watch.

    Gitana 18’s coachroof

    01.10.2023

    24h Ultim: A very promising warm-up.

    The second edition of the 24h Ultim has been playing out in Lorient since last Friday. Following Sodebo’s withdrawal due to damage to her daggerboard on the eve of the competition, the remaining four maxi-trimarans initially got embroiled in some speed runs before facing off in a 340-mile offshore course off the tip of Brittany. In preparation for…

    par Gitana

    The second edition of the 24h Ultim has been playing out in Lorient since last Friday. Following Sodebo’s withdrawal due to damage to her daggerboard on the eve of the competition, the remaining four maxi-trimarans initially got embroiled in some speed runs before facing off in a 340-mile offshore course off the tip of Brittany. In preparation for the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre, the teams set sail double-handed at noon yesterday, accompanied by an on-board reporter. Aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, this was the first race meet for the Charles Caudrelier / Erwan Israël pairing. Securing a second place this Sunday, just three minutes shy of winner Banque Populaire, the crew on the five-arrow giant were pleased with the work carried out during the spring refit and confirmed that they are very much on the pace for the major sports challenges which await the men of Gitana Team. Indeed, in one month’s time, the fleet of giants will be in Le Havre for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre, which promises to be just as thrilling as the showstopping spectacle offered up this weekend.
    Joint winners of the speed runs and second in the offshore sprint   

    Relaunched in late July, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild made her return to the racetrack in the 24h Ultim. Combining speed runs and an offshore sprint, it was the perfect format for sizing up the competition with one month to go until the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre and three months until the start of the Arkea Ultim Challenge, the first singlehanded round the world race for Ultims.   

     

    There were three course marks and as many leaders for every rounding and there were less than fifteen minutes between the podium places in this second edition of the 24h Ultim as they crossed the finish line offshore of Pen Men on the Ile de Groix… If we add to that, not one but two winners (tied) from Friday’s speed runs, there is sufficient evidence to say that this 2023 vintage is evenly matched and the standard of the Ultim class is very high. Aboard their 32-metre-long sea giants, the skippers fiercely hunt down every metre won, giving rise to some intense and particularly hotly contested races. It’s a highly enjoyable scenario for both enthusiasts and sailors, whose smiles dockside in Lorient this morning spoke volumes.       

    Verbatim from Charles Caudrelier and Erwan Israël     

    Charles Caudrelier: “It was a fantastic battle! The main source of satisfaction is the fact that the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild posted some stellar performances in the sectors we’ve recently been working on. The close-contact racing is the perfect way to raise our game, which is exciting when you have a competitive mindset. Congratulations to Banque Populaire for this victory. She’s quick and the crew sailed very well. They deserved the win. For our part, we made a few minor errors. They weren’t that serious, but the competition is so tight that very soon you have to pay the price for any blip. I think the most positive aspect is that we came right back into contention at the end of the course and we were tightly bunched at the finish. By racing this weekend, we’ve learned a lot about everyone’s strengths and weaknesses so I’m keen to discover the kind of weather conditions that the Transat Jacques Vabre has in store for us!”   

    Erwan Israël: “It was fabulous! It was much better to be aboard rather than doing remote routing (Erwan Israël was Charles’ router during the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild’s last races and has since become his co-skipper). We mainly had medium conditions, but they were fantastic with a superb downwind flight towards Ushant, a magnificent starry night and an equally beautiful sunrise over Belle-Ile. I was very happy to be at sea. Our rivals have managed to close on us and there’s precious little separating the boats today. Logically we’re all really close now, which makes things very interesting. We are sailing within sight of one another virtually the whole way, which is motivating and very instructive. We each have our strengths and weaknesses. This race has enabled us to validate a lot of the sensations and we’re really happy with the way the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild performed. We’ve fought well, which is very positive for the Transat Jacques Vabre and we’re now focusing on this major challenge that awaits us.”   

    The countdown to the Transat Jacques Vabre is on. In just less than three weeks’ time, on 19 October to be precise, the Ultims will enter the Eure Basin and tie up to the dock at the foot of a pavilion specially devised by the owners of these giants of the seas. Ten days later, on Sunday 29 October, the festivities in Le Havre will be punctuated by the race’s 30th anniversary celebrations before giving way to the open ocean and the competition. Ahead of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, reigning champion in the Ultim category, lay 7,000 nautical miles and around a fortnight at sea. Unsurprisingly, Charles Caudrelier and Erwan Israël are eager to hit the racetrack!   

    24h Ultim, offshore race time   

     1 – Maxi Banque Populaire XI  Finish: 01/10/2023 at 09:13:32 FR 
    Race time: 21h 13min 32s 

    2 – Maxi Edmond de Rothschild  Finish: 01/10/2023 at 09:16:52 FR 
    Race time: 21h 16min 52s 
    Deficit in relation to the winner: 03min 20s 

    3 – SVR-Lazartigue  Finish: 01/10/2023 at 09:28:23 FR 
    Race time: 21h 28min 23s 
    Deficit in relation to the winner: 14min 51s 
    Deficit in relation to the second boat: 11min 31s      

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