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.

04.11.2017

Conditions favourable for speed.

Tomorrow, at 12:35 UTC, the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre will set sail. On the eve of the big day, the weather forecasts are becoming clearer and the start of the race is shaping up to be quick. Conditions will become more boisterous off the north-west tip of Brittany ready for the passage of a front, which is set to roll through late…

par Gitana

This Saturday’s departure of François Gabart and Yves Le Blévec’s respective singlehanded round the world record campaigns, the former eastbound and the second westbound, is an unmistakeable sign! Indeed, if the record hunters are out, it’s because the weather conditions announced in the North Atlantic over the coming days will favour speed.

The skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild gives us the low-down on the initial hours of racing: “At start time, we’ll be influenced by the tail end of a low with a WNW’ly wind of around twenty knots. These conditions should enable us to make for Etretat, where the organisation has planned a mark, on a single tack. Once we make the turn at Etretat, we’ll be off on a long stretch of reaching (wind on the beam), which will last through until Monday lunchtime. At that point, the pace will be fast, but for safety reasons we’ve already decided to play things conservatively in this first section. Between the shipping and the TSS (Traffic Separation System) off Cherbourg and then Ushant, the level of vigilance will have to be increased. In the English Channel, we’ll have quite manageable seas of 1.5 metres, but once Ushant is behind us the atmosphere will change dramatically and the seas will be heavier with a 3 to 3.5-metre swell. We should be at Ushant shortly before midnight on Sunday.”