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.

04.07.2011

Black Sunday for Edmond de Rothschild Group.

par Gitana

There are some days which it would be better to forget and the first six races contested this Sunday in the port of Boston were certainly in that category. Pierre Pennec and his three crew linked together a series of poor races – with the exception of the last race of the day which they won – resulting in them being heavily penalised in this evening’s provisional ranking for the American event. Edmond de Rothschild Group has lost its fourth place to the benefit of the Italians on Luna Rossa and now finds itself under threat from their closest pursuers. Today was hard for team spirits but you wouldn’t know these four sailors very well if you were to think for one instance that they’d give up. Like the seventh and ultimate race, tomorrow, the men from Gitana Team will be giving their all to reverse the trend and regain the form we know they’re capable of.

Today saw a complete change of setting in Boston: the glorious sunshine which marked the first three days of competition gave way, this Sunday, to overcast skies, which turned stormy at the end of the afternoon. The wind, coming from the city and its numerous skyscrapers, once against tested the crews’ nerve, and notably those of Pierre Pennec and his men: “Our results testify to the fact that we found it hard to read the race zone correctly today. It was an offshore wind and hence very shifty given the configuration of the race site. In concrete terms, the favourable side of the race zone changed with every race and very often during the races themselves. We weren’t very inspired as regards the right tacks today”, admitted Christophe Espagnon, the mainsail trimmer.

Not very inspired at the starts and not managing to get into the right rhythm today, with the exception of the last race which they won, the crew of Edmond de Rothschild Group experienced a difficult day, as the skipper explained without waffling: “I didn’t manage to find the right wind angles to get the boat powered up at the starts, hence our departure in the second wave of boats, which meant that we weren’t able to rank well. We were also mistaken in our assessment of the crosses or the choice of tacks.”
Every evening, following racing, the crew gets together for a debriefing. It is an essential open discussion to help the team make progress and analyse the mistakes made during the day, as Christophe Espagnon highlighted: “Before dinner, we’re going to review today’s races. After days like these, we prefer to turn the page and cast our minds to the next day, but it’s very important to analyse our mistakes in order to remedy them. Indeed, beyond poor understanding of the race zone, we had some bad positioning which led to penalties and you have to take all that out of the equation. We’re lucky to be a united crew, who know each other very well and these debriefings are also key to retaining that cohesion, which is one of our team’s strengths.”

In the ranking, the catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild has conceded her fourth place to Luna Rossa and has lost ground on the top trio, which are still made up of Artemis Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and The Wave Muscat, in that order. This evening however, Pierre Pennec and his crew can also feel their two closest pursuers breathing down their necks as they have closed on Edmond de Rothschild Group’s stern. For the final day of the Boston Grand Prix, the day which will designate the winner, the four sailors no longer have a choice. They’ll have to really go for it so as not to conclude this event with any regrets: “We’re really going to have to pull out all the stops and get away as we have nothing to lose and everything to win!” concluded Pierre Pennec.

Tomorrow, whilst the United States is celebrating their Independence Day, the equivalent of France’s Bastille Day celebrations, the Extreme Sailing Series fleet will be contesting the final races in the Boston Grand Prix. Get together, shortly after 1400 hours local time, or early evening in Europe, to follow the final confrontations in the American stage of the 2011 circuit. The wind conditions are scheduled to be very light.

Ranking in the Boston Grand Prix on Sunday 3 July (after 30 races)
1. Artemis Racing (SWE) – 239 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZ) – 225 points
3. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) – 222 points
4. Luna Rossa (ITA) – 210 points
5. Edmond de Rothschild Groupe (FRA) – 200 points
6. Alinghi (SUI) – 199 points
7. Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT) – 195,2 points
8. Niceforyou (ITA) – 133 points
9. Oman Air (OMA) – 149points
10. Team GAC Pindar (GBR) – 116 points
11. Team Extreme (EUR) – 94 points

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