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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

05.01.2021

Code yellow, the window appears to be taking shape.

par Gitana

The weather scenario is becoming clearer now for the men of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, who are keener than ever to make the switch to code green and cast off for the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy offshore of the north-west tip of Brittany. As such, the latest update on the grib forecast files this Tuesday evening is eagerly awaited. Indeed, upon receipt of the latter, the weather cell for the five-arrow racing stable will refine their analysis in a bid to pinpoint the right moment for the 32-metre giant to leave Lorient and set a course for Ushant. Two major trends are currently being weighed up: a departure in the early hours of tomorrow, Wednesday 6 January or some 48 hours later to round off this first week of 2021 in style.

Update on the evening of 5 January

The grib files are converging to indicate a better departure window on Friday 8 January. For that reason, following an analysis of the latest forecasts, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild’s weather cell has this evening chosen to remain on code yellow to await this favourable scenario. The two skippers, Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, together with their router Marcel van Triest, are observing the situation several times a day and the window will need to be adjusted right to the last moment in order to optimise the initially targeted passage times (equator and Cape Agulhas). The six sailors on the latest Gitana are poised for action and ready to cast off and could leave their home port of Lorient from Thursday if need be.

Pinpointing a target window

At the briefing this Monday morning at 09:30 UTC, Marcel van Triest gave the team the low-down: “2021 seems to want to offer us more opportunities and the coming week should enable us to envisage an initial passage time within the timeframe we’d set ourselves as departure criteria, namely a sub-5-day time to the equator and around 11 days to get below South Africa.” The tone was set then, but the team still had to adjust the timing for crossing the line as best they could to ensure the team manages to follow the sequence of weather systems that is such an essential part of this first third of the record attempt.

Indeed, when the crews set sail from the tip of Brittany, they’re not only seeking a favourable departure window to give them as speedy a passage as possible to the equator, above all they’re aiming for a transition of millimetre precision offshore of Brazil to enable them to hook onto the right wagon to glide down towards the Southern Ocean. It is this exacting coordination, which Gitana Team’s weather cell is currently trying to pinpoint.

Ready for action

This afternoon, at the heart of Gitana Team’s technical base and aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, both the team and the sailors are busying themselves with the final details: loading the provisions, filling the tanks with water and ‘diesel’ and installing the six sailors’ personal gear… At dawn tomorrow, the latest of the Gitanas will be ready to take on its latest challenge at which point it is the weather that will decide if the first crewed round the world attempt aboard a flying maxi-trimaran will set sail straight away or benefit from a few hours’ respite to hone their weapons.

Jules Verne Trophy memo:

Crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild:

Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, skippers
David Boileau, trimmer bowman
Erwan Israël, helm trimmer
Morgan Lagravière, helm trimmer
Yann Riou, trimmer media man

Marcel van Triest, weather router
Yann Eliès, replacement crew

Record to beat:

40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes > Record held by Francis Joyon and his crew (Idec Sport) since 26 January 2017.

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