The Day Before, Gitana Team’s new web series.

2016 and we’re about to kick off a season that promises to be intense, thrilling and inevitably sporty. Within Gitana Team, there has been another studious winter with the juggling of two refits and the monitoring of a third which, despite the work taking place at Multiplast in Vannes, is of equal importance going forward. Indeed, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild has undergone a number of transformations around the foil casing in order to accommodate new appendages, whilst aboard the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild everything has been dismantled and conscientiously revised together with work to optimise the platform. With regards the construction of the future maxi-multihull Gitana that began in November 2015 and whose launch is scheduled for the summer of 2017, it continues to progress and the giant is gradually starting to take shape.

The Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild’s second test campaign
The story began in late 2013 with the arrival of the Transat Jacques Vabre and continues today with the second series of tests scheduled over the coming days offshore of Lorient.  Last year, the team had already taken a big leap forward with the addition of asymmetric foils – one of which is L-shaped – with T-foil rudders. The positive conclusions of these test sails have prompted Gitana’s Design Office and Team Guillaume Verdier to take things further, given the extent to which Gitana XV has proven to be a fantastic laboratory for the maxi-multihull that is currently in the pipeline.

Relaunched on 25 February 2016, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild will take to the open ocean very soon once she has been kitted out with her new foils, which are appendages that have been designed to fulfil the Gitana Team’s brief of an oceanic trimaran capable of offshore flight.

The Day Before, 2016’s monthly meeting
The Vendée Globe, a legendary solo round the world race without stopovers and without assistance, is the flagship event of the 2016 race schedule for Gitana Team. However, this race, which needs no introduction, goes well beyond the sporting context alone given the extent of the unfailing commitment and effort required. In his meticulous preparation, Sébastien Josse is accompanied and supported by a team that is as closely-knit as it is competent; a group of men and women that work behind the scenes and without whom nothing would be possible. This year we will once again attempt to dive into the heart of their daily life and get the inside story on the five-arrow team.

After two seasons of good and faithful service, the “in the wake of the Gitana” magazine is giving way to a new web series that goes by the title “The Day Before”. On the 5^th of every month, the members of the racing stable fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild invite you to get the low-down on the very latest news, with particular emphasis on how both the team and its skipper are raising their game in their bid to take on the Vendée Globe.

Gitana, 140 years of legend

Finally, it’s worth noting that 2016 also marks an important anniversary for the five-arrow team since Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild will celebrate the 140^th anniversary of their family’s maritime commitment and passion throughout the Gitana fleet’s legendary history. The team already has some great surprises in store to mark the occasion.

Programme for the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild

Late March – relaunch
April – training sessions
2 May – start of The Transat (Plymouth – New York)
29 May – start from New York – Les Sables d’Olonne
6 November – start of the Vendée Globe