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.

12.06.2013

Match-racing airs on the approach to Lisbon.

The first offshore leg of the Route des Princes is gradually drawing to a close. Musandam - Oman Sail, which had been leading the fleet since Monday, finally secured the win this Wednesday after 2 days 23 hours 41 minutes and 38 seconds, managing to contain the attacks from its closest rivals. Aboard Edmond de Rothschild, line honours are now obvio…

par Gitana

The first offshore leg of the Route des Princes is gradually drawing to a close. Musandam – Oman Sail, which had been leading the fleet since Monday, finally secured the win this Wednesday after 2 days 23 hours 41 minutes and 38 seconds, managing to contain the attacks from its closest rivals. Aboard Edmond de Rothschild, line honours are now obviously out of the reach of Sébastien Josse and his men, but they’re still battling with Virbac Paprec to hold onto their third place and the very precious points that come with it.

The 800 miles of this first leg between Valencia and Lisbon and its long hours of close-hauled sailing will soon be but a memory in the wake of the trimaran Edmond de Rothschild. Whilst the frontrunners cross the finish line one-by-one, Sébastien Josse and his crew are giving their all offshore of the Portuguese coast in a bid to make the capital and engage in a final duel with Jean-Pierre Dick’s men.

At the 1200 GMT ranking, the two one-designs were neck and neck with around 70 miles to the finish. The trimaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild still boasted a slight 1.5-mile lead over Jean-Pierre Dick’s men. However, the die has not yet been cast, as the weather conditions over the finish zone seem to want to keep up the suspense till the last. Indeed the finish promises to be complicated and stressful in the light airs. Given the weather system reigning in the Lisbon region today, Race Management has opted to shorten the course to the entrance of the Tagus River rather than in the famous river itself as initially planned.

The final miles of the race, which are turning into a real match race for Edmond de Rothschild and Virbac Paprec, promise to be thrilling watching, though they will be particularly stressful for Sébastien Josse’s crew, who will have to exploit and get the best of every little wind shift in order to leave their pursuer in their wake. We won’t know the outcome of this duel until late afternoon as the latest ETAs shows Edmond de Rothschild on the finish line at around 1630 to 1700 hours GMT.

Ranking on 12 June 2013 at 1200 noon (GMT)

Musandam – Oman Air (Sidney Gavignet), finished at 11h41m38sec GMT
Spindrift Racing (Yann Guichard) 11.4 miles astern
Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse) 68.5 miles astern
Virbac Paprec 70 (Jean-Pierre Dick) 70 miles astern

The crew of Edmond de Rothschild on offshore 1

Sébastien Josse / Charles Caudrelier / Thomas Rouxel / Olivier Douillard / Jean-Christophe Mourniac / Florent Chastel

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