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.

19.06.2015

IN THE WAKE OF GITANA, JUNE 2015.

par Gitana

In offshore racing, very often we know the stories of the sea or the biographies of the sailors setting off on the races, but very little about the background to the teams hidden behind the performances. Dive into the heart of the Gitana Team and each month you too can explore behind the scenes of the offshore racing stable fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild; such is the promise of the web series In the wake of Gitana. Construction, research and development, optimisation, training sessions, competitions, as well as team spirit the Gitana Team opens its doors.

News, lakeside fortunes

It’s aboard the GC32 Edmond de Rothschild that Sébastien Josse and his five crew opted to compete in the most celebrated of the competitions on Lake Geneva for the first time: the Bol d’Or. And for this baptism of fire, Gitana was hoping for a medium to strong wind with which to harness the potential of its Flying catamaran. In the end, light airs dominated the first part of the race before the storms and violent squalls spiced up the race for the catamaran with five arrows. What a tale!

Encounter with one of the members of Gitana

Endearing, passionate and endowed with unfailing humour, Cyril Ducrot is one of the guardian angels of the craft that make up the five-arrow racing stable… Indeed, he is one of the ‘préparateurs’, the team’s boat captain. He reveals all about his journey here and describes his rather atypical route, one that enabled this boat fanatic to ‘migrate’ from the shores of the Opale coast in north-east France to the waters of southern Brittany.

Objective Vendée Globe, the final assembly

At the Multiplast yard in Vannes, the time has come for the completion of the shell of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. After the successful assembly of the hull and deck with millimetre precision, the ‘box’ is now sealed. Always a tricky operation, it’s taken numerous man-hours for the teams managed by Yann Penfornis, with several test runs performed beforehand. Pierre Tissier, Gitana’s technical director, invites us to hop aboard for a guided tour.

Images and production: Christophe Castagne / Yol Production
Editing and technical equipment: Thomas Sametin / R2 Production

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