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.

03.11.2014

Already at Cape Finisterre.

par Gitana

The queen of the solo transatlantic races has not been gentle with its ninety-one pretenders to victory. Indeed the weather conditions encountered by the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe fleet over these first 24 hours of racing have been in line with the forecasts gleaned prior to the boats leaving Saint Malo. This equates to the negotiation of a very active front a few hours after the start, with 30 to 35 knots of breeze combined with steep and difficult seas. Aboard the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild, Sébastien Josse has played his game well, skilfully managing this first phase of the course. Fourth in the 1500 GMT ranking, the sailor was still in contact with the large multihulls in the Ultime class, despite the seas still being rather unfavourable for speed and the 21-metre waterline of the trimaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild.

The boisterous start of this 2014 edition has left its mark on the Route du Rhum fleet, with some eleven retirements and as many pit stops. In the Ultime class, the premature end of the adventure for Thomas Coville has left a gaping void. In essence, the skipper of Sodebo Ultim’ was the victim of a collision with a cargo ship last night, not far from Ushant’s TSS (Traffic Separation System). His misfortune sadly testifies to the difficulty of the task at hand in these zones with heavy shipping, which sailors seldom relish. Indeed, on top of the boisterous weather conditions, the solo sailors had to spend the whole of last night slaloming their way through the cargo ships and fishing boats amidst a series of squalls and hence poor visibility.

Focus on the ranking

Aboard Banque Populaire VII, which is none other than the former Groupama 3, which won the Route du Rhum 2010, Loïck Peyron has negotiated the start of the competition to perfection. Rapidly taking up the reins of the race, the sailor from La Baule on France’s Atlantic coast had increased his bonus this afternoon, amassing a 48-mile lead over the current skipper in second place, Prince de Bretagne. Positioned further to the East than his adversaries and hence further away from the direct route on which the distance to the goal calculations are based, Sébastien Josse has yielded the second place he held this morning and conceded a few miles to the head of the fleet. At the 1500 GMT ranking, the skipper of Edmond de Rothschild was lying in fourth place some 55 miles shy of the leader.

The upcoming weather

After a few hours of ‘relative’ respite, with sheets slightly cracked off in the Bay of Biscay, the Ultimes are likely to have another bracing night offshore of Cape Finisterre and the Iberian peninsula: “For now, Sébastien is sailing in a slightly diverging system, on the back end of the front that rolled over the fleet last night, so the wind is a little lighter, but most significantly it’s shifty in both strength and direction. This is making things a little complicated, as it’s important to find the right sail configuration. However, over the course of the afternoon, he will enter an active stormy section at the back of the low. From that point, the wind will pick up a notch again, establishing itself at around 25 – 30 knots as it veers, which means he’ll hit a north-westerly wind. However, it won’t be until after rounding Cape Finisterre, that the head of the fleet will hit the lively part of the active storm system. The grib files are indicating 30 to 35 knots, gusting to 40 for a dozen hours or so. It’s also at that stage that the seas will be heavier, with 5-metre waves on the programme,” explained Antoine Koch this Monday lunchtime.

We get the picture then, tonight is not the night when Sébastien Josse will be able to recuperate under the cuddy. This is particularly true given the reaching conditions (wind on the beam), which though not lacking appeal in terms of speed, are also a source of stress for the solo sailors. Ready for this scenario – namely 48 to 72 intense hours – the skipper of Edmond de Rothschild is tackling the upcoming miles with a clear head and great determination.

Ranking on 3 November at 1500 GMT

Banque Populaire VII (Loïck Peyron) – 3,159.2 miles from the goal
Prince de Bretagne (Lionel Lemonchois) – 48 miles behind the leader
Spindrift 2 (Yann Guichard) – 50 miles back
Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse) – 55 miles behind the leader
Paprec recyclage (Yann Elies) – 55.6 miles back
Musandam Oman Sail (Sidney Gavignet) – 62.2 miles back
Idec Sport (Francis Joyon) – 85.7 miles back

Abd – Sodebo Ultim’

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