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.

01.11.2014

Lock time.

With 24 hours to go until start day, this Sunday offshore of the Pointe du Grouin, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild will leave Bassin Vauban today via Le Naye to make for her trot mooring offshore of Dinard, where she’ll spend the night.

par Gitana

A mandatory passage for the vast majority of the fleet, the exit from the floating basin is still an emotion-packed moment for the locals and also for the Gitana Team. It’s an opportunity to greet the crowd and thank those in the corsair city for their welcome. For Sébastien Josse and the members of the racing stable depicted by its five arrows, it remains a tricky manœuvre despite the euphoria of the moment: “We need to be very precise as the lock gate is narrow and the boat is pretty wide,” explains David Boileau, the boat captain of the trimaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild.
Orchestrated by the Race Management of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, each team has to scrupulously respect its order of passage. In this way, at 1450 hours on the dot, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild will leave Bassin Vauban in second position so as to make the lock together with three other Ultimes. “We’re going to move the boat with the help of two ribs as we leave the dock, then we’ll sit it out for a few minutes as we wait for the bridge to open and the entry into the lock. For this 10^th edition of the Route du Rhum, the last nine winners, aboard another rib, will open our lock gate for us. Once all the boats are in the lock, the water level will drop to that of the sea level. It’s not a complicated manœuvre but we need to remain vigilant throughout this stage and carefully control the mooring up procedure,” explains David Boileau. Once we’ve reached sea level, the lock gates will open onto Dinard harbour, leaving the multihull to make her mooring for a last night prior to start day.

Mooring out in the harbour is a great classic of the Route du Rhum. The whole fleet of 91 boats not being able to leave the marina in a single tide, a section of the yachts will spend the night on the buoys near Dinard on the other side of the Rance.
Aboard, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild, David Boileau and Benoit Piquemal (on-board electronics and computer specialist) will be on watch: “Mooring in the outer harbour is an unusual situation for a multihull. On this occasion, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild will be on a trot mooring, which means supported by two buoys, attached fore and aft. The boats all being aligned on the same trot mooring, some will pull more than others. To check and adjust the moorings according to the wind and the tides, each boat will have one or two people aboard. David and I will take it in turns throughout the night,” explains Benoit Piquemal.

On Sunday morning, the two men will be joined by Sébastien Josse and his inner circle: Cyril Dardashti and Yann Le Govic completing the foursome and together they’ll make for the start zone. The starting gun will set the entire fleet on their way at exactly 1400 hours.

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