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  • Gitana 18
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    • 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.

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    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.

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    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.

    Gitana 18’s daggerboard

    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.

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    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.

    Gitana 18’s coachroof

    04.07.2012

    A prologue on the edge.

    After setting out from Newport, Rhode Island late yesterday afternoon, the fleet of MOD 70s made landfall in New York this Tuesday, after a twenty-hour port-to-port sprint. In order to cover the 150 miles, which separate the two North-American cities, the five competing crews had to contend with some light conditions and a few stormy patches. Favou…

    par Gitana

    After setting out from Newport, Rhode Island late yesterday afternoon, the fleet of MOD 70s made landfall in New York this Tuesday, after a twenty-hour port-to-port sprint. In order to cover the 150 miles, which separate the two North-American cities, the five competing crews had to contend with some light conditions and a few stormy patches. Favouring a central option, whilst Musandam – Oman Sail preferred a route offshore and Race for Water went for the inshore option, Sébastien Josse and his crew secured second place in the Krys Ocean Race prologue. The result is symbolic, since this test run doesn’t count towards the event standing, but it still augurs well for their future confrontations just days before they cast off on their Atlantic sprint. After making their way up the Hudson River and putting in a few tacks at the foot of the Statue of Liberty, the trimaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild took up her berth in North Cove Marina, to the South of Manhattan.

    During the prologue between Newport and New York, the five trimarans which make up the Krys Ocean Race fleet were able to sail within contact and take up their racing configuration in this pre-Atlantic ‘friendly’. The mild weather conditions, which accompanied the thirty sailors over the 150-mile course were perfect for a gentle introduction to proceedings: “Before setting out, we didn’t really know what awaited us on the water, even though certain weather models were opting for light airs. Ultimately we had some very light conditions, with no more than 12 knots of breeze, as well as storm that erupted into life a few hours after the start in Newport, as we were passing Block Island. This storm messed up the wind a bit. I must admit that I wasn’t delighted to be racing a prologue under the cover of darkness, just a few days before a transatlantic, knowing that this area is renowned for it’s fishing pots and nets. However, conditions lent themselves pretty well to this race and Edmond de Rothschild Group has made it into New York in tip-top condition. We got off to a good start in Newport, with good timing, and that enabled us to head out of Narrangansett Bay in the lead. After that, there were a few options up for grabs. Oman chose to head offshore, whilst the rest of the fleet began to weave their way along the side of Long Island. At the end of the course, Race for Water chose to stay inshore and the results show that this was the right move. The outcome was decided over the final miles in a dying breeze. It was a fine prologue in contact with the others and we’re keen to do battle in the Atlantic now,” commented the skipper of Edmond de Rothschild Group on his arrival.

    By finishing two minutes and thirty seconds astern of the Swiss one-design, the No.1 of the class, Sébastien Josse and his five crew secured second place in this warm-up. Spindrift Racing rounded off the podium, after just managing to snatch third place from Michel Desjoyeaux.

    After a parade between Verrazano Bridge and the South of Manhattan, the five one-design trimarans had to slip along one by one into North Cove Marina, at the very heart of the City. To tie up there is both tricky and spectacular for the New Yorkers present, but the final setting is well worth it:“I’ve already visited New York and North Cove Marina but it was with a VOR 70 and not a 16m-wide multihull. The entry into the marina is pretty overwhelming as it’s narrow (around 22 metres) and with the current from the river, you really have to be focused! However, it’s fantastic to be at the very heart of the city, at the foot of huge buildings that make up Wall Street”, admitted Sébastien Josse, before going on to discuss the previous night’s exploits by the French: “Aboard the boat, we were following the Volvo Ocean Race finish in Galway. Hearty congratulations to Franck Cammas, his crew and all his team. Their win was achieved in imperial fashion and that’s no small matter. Congratulations to them!”

    Tomorrow the Gitana Team will have the chance to celebrate Independence Day, a national holiday in America, with ringside seats. A final moment of relaxation before the countdown to the Atlantic sprint definitively kicks off!

    * In summer Newport and New York operate at GMT-4 hours.

    The crew of Edmond de Rothschild Group

    Sébastien Josse (skipper, helmsman)

    Antoine Koch (navigator – helmsman)

    Christophe Espagnon (trimmer – helmsman)

    David Boileau (trimmer – helmsman)

    Thomas Rouxel (trimmer – helmsman)

    Florent Chastel (bowman)

    The programme for the Krys Ocean Race

    Thursday 5 July (1500 – 1700 hours local time, 1900 – 2100 UTC): New York Speed Match

    Friday 6 July (1200 hours local time, 1600 UTC): Press conference for the start

    Saturday 7 July (1100 local time, 1500 UTC): START OF THE KRYS OCEAN RACE

    Friday 13 July: first ETAs possible in Brest

    Saturday 14 July (1800 UTC): Prize-giving for the Krys Ocean Race

    Monday 16 July (0800 – 1500 UTC): Brest City Race (2 races scheduled)

    Thursday 19 July (0800 UTC): Closing parade Tonnerres de Brest

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