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.

01.11.2013

Autumn storms, the Transat Jacques Vabre seeks a way through.

par Gitana

In Le Havre this morning, during the briefing gathering together all the competitors in the Transat Jacques Vabre, Race Management stated that it would postpone its decision until tomorrow, Saturday, with regard whether or not to delay Sunday’s scheduled start at 1302 hours. Indeed a series of cold fronts are rolling through the English Channel at a rate of one every 24 hours, leading to strong winds (an established 25/30 knots) and heavy seas. As experienced sailors, Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier understand just how harsh the elements can be at the starts of these autumnal transatlantic races. For the time being, the duo aboard the Multi 70 Edmond de Rothschild don’t wish to put any more pressure on themselves than necessary and trust in the Race Committee, which will have to pick a way through these systems to launch a start in acceptable weather conditions.

Start date subject to Saturday’s decision: the Edmond de Rothschild duo is ready for action

On Sunday, 25 to 30 knots of westerly breeze are forecast, gusting to 35. With a coefficient of 97 and the tide on the ebb at midday, heavy seas over tide are set to sweep across the Baie de Seine at start time. Such conditions aren’t conducive to easy handling for the 44 boats competing in this 11^th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Ready for take-off

“Surprisingly I’m not that worried and I’m still managing to distance myself a little from the pressure of the start,” Sébastien Josse explains confidently. “The Race Committee knows what it is doing, it’s up to us to be patient. The boat is ready, as is the crew, and until the decision about our sentence is made, there’s no point in getting ourselves het up before time!” Enthusiastic about what awaits, the skipper of the trimaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild is even casting his mind forward to the more distant future. “After Cape Finisterre, the weather is forecast to be great. The zone of high pressure seems stable over the Azores and the tradewinds are in position along the coast of Portugal. It’s fantastic!”

“All that remains is to load the fresh produce (Corsican parmesan, coppa (dry-cured pork) and cooked pork meats) and we can cast off,” Charles adds with a smile. “In the mornings, I’m a bit stressed when I awake, but that’s par for the course before this kind of event. It doesn’t last; I go for a run and the feeling’s gone! However things pan out we’ll have 24 to 36 tough hours to exit the English Channel and make headway to the South. That’s the name of the game with these races and we’re prepared for it.”

2-phase multihull start planned initially

This race gathers together four classes of boat: 40 and 60-foot monohulls and 50 and 70-foot multihulls. The organisation is keen to encourage bunched arrivals in Brazil. As such, given the differences in speed between the boats with one or three hulls, Race Management had planned to launch the start of the monohull race on Sunday and to make the multihulls return to port after a preliminary coastal course across the Baie de Seine. The Committee then wished to delay the ‘true’ multihull start by a few days, according to the weather. The ranking for this prologue, which was set to span some forty miles or so between Le Havre and Étretat, would then count towards the overall ranking as the Multi50s and Multi70s will set sail for the Atlantic according to the order and finish time of their initial coastal course.

Reminiscent of the Mini Transat

However, Race Management must adapt to the endless string of lows, giving the impression during this morning’s briefing that a general start involving all the class could be in prospect from Monday. Like the organisers of the Mini Transat 2013, whose departure from Douarnenez was delayed by over ten days and whose fleet are currently on a stopover in Spain to let a gale blow through off Cape Finisterre, the organisers of the Transat Jacques Vabre have to favour the safety of their sailors primarily. For the competitors, this situation obviously isn’t that comfortable but it is what one would expect for this time of year!

The next skippers’ briefing will take place in Le Havre tomorrow, Saturday, at 1100 hours.

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