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.

18.06.2013

Restart off Southern Ireland.

par Gitana

After an express crossing of the Bay of Biscay the MOD70s competing in the Route des Princes rounded the legendary Fastnet Rock late morning this Tuesday. In this way they’re now on the home straight in this offshore leg to Dublin. The fleet is currently making its way along the South-East coast of Ireland in an easing wind. The sailors expected this weather scenario, the direct result of which has seen a general bunching together of the fleet with less than 200 miles to go. Oman Air, leading, is now just two miles ahead of Edmond de Rothschild, who were lying in 4th place at the noon ranking (GMT). The race is back on then and over the coming hours, Sébastien Josse and his crew will need nerves of steel and clear heads as they carve out a course towards the Irish capital.

The pace being set by the Route des Princes’ fleet is intense. Having set sail from Lisbon on Sunday at 1300 GMT, the trimarans devoured the Bay of Biscay in just one gulp, despite the muscly sea state: “Everything’s going very well aboard! We negotiated our way around the depression without mishap. We had big seas and it was pretty stressful as the boat was slamming a great deal and every wave caused her to suffer. However, with regard the wind, conditions remained quite manageable with no more than 25 knots. However, it’s hard to sleep or eat in these conditions.”

Sébastien Josse and his five crew did manage to benefit from a few hours’ respite last night though, as the fleet wove its way towards the Fastnet: “Last night, we got back into some close-hauled sailing… it’d been a while! We had between 15 and 20 knots and the crew got in some good rest as we knew the last few miles were going to call for everyone’s full attention. Our batteries are recharged now, we’ve managed to eat and we’re on the attack for the finish,” the skipper of Gitana Team confided, before discussing last night’s escapee: “We’re in a close-contact race and the minute someone gets a slight edge, those behind get on the attack and make up the lost ground. We’re sailing one-designs so that’s how you’d expect it to play out. Oman didn’t follow the same trajectory as ourselves and Spindrift. They wove their way along better than us and now have a slight lead so congratulations to them.”

Late this morning, the four MOD70s rounded the Fastnet, the second course mark of this offshore leg between Lisbon and Dublin. Leading the way, Sidney Gavignet and his men pocketed the two bonus points awarded at this mark. However, the minute they were around Fastnet Rock, the crew of Oman Air saw their adversaries hot on their heels again.Indeed the two hundred nautical miles still separating the one-designs from the finish certainly won’t be a walk in the park. In fact the generous breeze, which Edmond de Rothschild Group and its rivals benefited from in the Bay of Biscay, is but a distant memory. Ahead of them the forecast is showing light, fairly shifty winds: “For the end of this race, the weather is far from evident. The grib files are indicating a very light wind – between 5 and 10 knots – from the Tuscar headland, not to mention a stint punching tide. The name of the game will be to escape this zone of calms as best we can,” Sébastien Josse explained. Suffice to say that for this third day at sea, strategy will be the primary concern. And though this home straight will undoubtedly be stressful for the sailors, it promises to be thrilling to follow given that victory could go to any one of the teams: “anything can happen in the calms!” Sébastien Josse concluded.

Despite the uncertainty weighing over the weather situation during the final few miles, making ETAs especially tricky to gauge, the multihulls are likely to make the town of Dùn Laoghaire, just a few kilometres to the South of Dublin, tomorrow morning.

Offshore 2 (Lisbon – Dublin) – Ranking on 18 June at 1200 GMT

Musandam – Oman Air (Sidney Gavignet) 184.5 miles from the goal
Spindrift Racing (Yann Guichard) 0.7 miles behind the leader
Virbac Paprec 70 (Jean-Pierre Dick) 1.4 miles behind the leader
Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse) 2.3 miles behind the leader

The crew of Edmond de Rothschild in offshore 2 (Lisbon – Dublin)

Sébastien Josse (skipper)
Charles Caudrelier / Thomas Rouxel / Antoine Koch / Jean-Christophe Mourniac / Florent Chastel

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