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.

11.11.2019

In single file en route to Brazil.

par Gitana

Since exiting the Doldrums at lunchtime on Sunday, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has been sailing in a moderate SE’ly trade wind, fluctuating between 15 and 20 knots. Such conditions are favourable to speed and they’re enabling the leader of the Brest Atlantiques to lengthen her stride en route to Brazil. At the 07:00 UTC ranking, Charles Caudrelier and Franck Cammas had stretched out their lead still further, bagging a few more miles ahead of their pursuers, Macif now 179.5 miles astern of Gitana 17 whilst Sodebo Ultim has racked up a deficit of 265.9 miles. The separation remains slender though after six days at sea, so it’s always good to get extra miles in the bank with a view to their impending technical pit stop in Salvador de Bahia.

Gearing up for a technical pit stop

As announced yesterday, the duo on Edmond de Rothschild and their media man Yann Riou will make a technical pit stop over the coming hours to repair their damaged daggerboard following some kind of impact offshore of the Cape Verde archipelago. Salvador de Bahia, an historic port associated with the finish of the Transat Jacques Vabre, is a very familiar destination for our sailors who have excelled in the latter event on a number of occasions. Right now though, it’s also the best possible option to effect repairs as it’s right on the current path of the latest addition to the Gitana fleet.

Cyril Dardashti, director of Gitana Team, is supervising operations from the five-arrow team’s HQ in Lorient, Brittany. “The shore team arrived in Salvador last night. Today, it must prepare all the equipment so that when the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild makes landfall, operations link together as smoothly and quickly as possible. We have lots of really valuable support, as much from the organisers of the Transat Jacques Vabre as the managers of the Marina de Salvador de Bahia. It’s never desirable to bring things to a halt so it’s hard for Franck and Charles, who have given their all since the start to build up the lead they have established today over the rest of the fleet, but this stopover is essential if they are to hit the racetrack again with a boat sailing at her full potential.”

=> ON-BOARD VIDEO

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A night at the heart of the Doldrums

This zone which stretches out on either side of the equator is feared by sailors. According to its moods, you can be treated to storms, followed by hours with no wind, before the rain hammers down on the decks. Here, it’s a bit like a game of cat and mouse and you have to thread your way along to get out of it as fast as possible. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has performed well in this exercise. Following their passage through, Charles Caudrelier and Franck Cammas have retained the head of the fleet, even increasing their lead significantly over their pursuers; 20 miles on the way in and 130 miles on the way out in relation to Macif. Yann Riou takes us behind the scenes of this night at the heart of the Doldrums.

Ranking on Monday 11 November at 07:00 UTC

MAXI EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD (Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier / Yann Riou) – distance to the goal: 10,157.4 miles – average speed over the past 30 mins: 27.4 knots

MACIF (François Gabart / Gwenolé Gahinet / Jérémie Eloi) – 179.5 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 28.6 knots

SODEBO ULTIM 3 (Thomas Coville / Jean-Luc Nelias / Martin Keruzoré) – 265.9 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 28 knots

ACTUAL LEADER (Yves Le Blevec / Alex Pella / Ronan Gladu) – 503.2 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 23.2 knots

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