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.

29.10.2016

Touring exhibition in the streets of the globe.

par Gitana

In the weeks preceding the start of the Vendée Globe, Port Olona is where it’s all happening with some twenty-nine competitors moored up and waiting for the big day. This year though, it’s a very different town, that is thrilling to the rhythm of this extraordinary planetary event. Indeed, on the streets of the town centre, along the quays of La Chaume, the locals of Les Sables clearly have a very strong attachment to this race and the sailors who embody it. The open-air exhibition currently offered by the group of artists in the streets of the globe, is a very nice way to share the emotion of this adventure with the greatest possible audience.

A familiar face at the event and a privileged observer for a number of years, graphic artist Isabelle Keller is the originator of this project: “I’ve been coming to the Vendée Globe since 2000 and with every edition I notice that there’s been nothing outside the race Village to get people talking about the event. In 2014, I decided to give concrete expression to my idea of creating full scale representations of boat and skippers as well as designing a big wave, so as to tell a story outdoors and physically bring the event to life amongst a wider public, guided by a mascot. I got in touch with photographer Maud Bernos, whose work in the Blue Eyes exhibition I liked, as well as local lady Sophie Roumet d’Enquin, who proved to be very enthusiastic about the project. Next, we were joined by Gaele Flao and Monsieur QQ, artists familiar with working on large formats. All we had to do then was to suggest the theme to the Mayor of Les Sables and to the Vendée Globe organisation.”

2.5km combining drawings and photographs

Inspired by street art, the “in the streets of the globe” exhibition was devised like a round the world, which awaits the solo sailors throughout a 2.5km route of drawings and photographs. Indeed, having admired the gallery of portraits of the twenty-nine skippers from this 2016-17 edition, spread across a large canvas cover spanning 180 metres in length, visitors will be able to cast off and take the start level with Rue Behic, and head around the three big capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) before once again linking onto the famous Les Sables d’Olonne canal and savouring the finish after numerous weeks of solo sailing.

In addition to the artistic dimension and the poetry radiating from the exhibition, the group’s aim was also to provide full scale representations to the public so as it can really immerse itself in the daily lives of the sailors and get the measure of the adventure in which these men are preparing to plunge. In the square housing the Palais de Justice, an 18.28m IMOCA monohull is drawn out on the ground, whilst silos accommodate a monumental 16-metre wave, reminiscent of those which will colour the oceans in the southern seas.

Sensitive to street art, as testified by the team’s new mermaid recently designed by American artist Cleon Peterson, and charmed by the group’s initiative and energy, Gitana Team has opted to be one of the exhibition’s partner-owners.

“In the streets of the globe”: a hundred or so works form a free roaming exhibition open to all 24/7.

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