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.

20.03.2012

Training as a threesome around the bay of Quiberon.

par Gitana

Having returned from Agadir at the end of February, after an intensive month and a half of training on Moroccan waters, Sébastien Josse and his crew on the MOD Edmond de Rothschild Group are back on the campaign trail this Monday. Indeed, throughout the week, the crew of the trimaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, is joining up with the one-designs Foncia and Spindrift Racing in the bay of Quiberon, so as to continue its preparations and finally see how it measures up against its future adversaries.

For the MOD 70, Edmond de Rothschild Group, winter training in the balmy Moroccan climate has culminated in nearly 4,000 miles sailed and over 70 hours of inshore races. In order to respect the balance offered by the Multi One Championship, the sailors from Gitana Team have been alternating between sessions offshore and around the bay. For the offshore aspect, Sébastien and his men have been able to familiarise themselves with the six-crew configuration during the return delivery trip (1,200 miles each way), as well as during the two training sessions in the area surrounding the Canaries. In addition to the miles they’ve racked up, they’ve also been able to get the hang of the watch systems during the past twelve nights at sea. The round-the-cans races, which will be on the cards for the City Races on the European Tour, have not been forgotten either, with over three weeks devoted to the exercise, under the leadership of Tanguy Leglatin.

“This training session was something we needed as we had to get some practical preparation under our belts so we could make up our deficit due to the later delivery date for the boat. This was a speeded-up learning process because the long days we spent sailing there helped us make double the progress,” admitted Sébastien Josse at once. “The MOD 70s are still big boats for six or eight crew, depending on the configuration of the races. As such this trimaran calls for a great deal of coordination in order to drive the boat to its full potential and that’s exactly what we worked on in Agadir. The choice of location for this winter training, far from our port of registry in Lorient, was dictated by a desire to find the optimum, mild conditions for sailing during this period of the year. And we weren’t really disappointed as we encountered all the different conditions we were after, from light airs to storm winds… That enabled us to reach the majority of the objectives we’d set ourselves. Perhaps the only drawback was the fact that we only had a short period doing battle with another MOD as Véolia had to leave early.”

The lack of adversaries which Edmond de Rothschild Group unfortunately suffered during the weeks spent in Morocco, is something that Sébastien Josse and his crew will be able to rectify over the coming days. Indeed, during the scheduled training with the crews of Spindrift Racing and Foncia, the men of Gitana Team will be able to pit themselves against one another, judge their level and thus target the work they have left to accomplish before the first of the season’s major race meets.

Though the experience gained during the training session in Morocco echoed technique in its purest sense, in this six-week ‘immersion’ period it was also the skipper’s intention that it would consolidate the group which will accompany him in the various races over the course of 2012. The human objective has been reached as Sébastien Josse explains: “In Agadir, I was really struck by everyone’s availability, whether it be the sailors or the members of the shore crew: they’re people who are motivated and happy to give 200% to this project. We had some long, intense working days, but everyone gave their all. This group suits me to a T and I’m eager to get to the start lines alongside my crew.” The odds are that these group dynamics, created by the men of Gitana Team, will be a considerable asset in the races which await Sébastien Josse and his crew.

The racing season will officially kick-off with the Tour de Belle-Ile on 28 April 2012 and the one-design in the colours of Edmond de Rothschild Group will be attempting to improve on the time set last year by… Gitana 11.

In the meantime, the MOD No.4 will head back to her technical base in Lorient for a few weeks so as the team can carry out a thorough check of the rig, the hydraulics, as well as the deck hardware.

The 2012 programme for the MOD Edmond de Rothschild Group

Tour de Belle-Ile: 28 April

Grand Prix de Douarnenez Guyader: From 3 to 6 May

ArMen Race: From 18 to 21 May

Trophée SNSM: from 1to 3 June

Krys Ocean Race (Crewed transatlantic race): start on 7 July from New York – estimated arrival in Brest on 14 July

European Tour (Crewed tour of Europe): start in Kiel (Germany) on 2 September

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