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.

04.08.2010

Edmond de Rothschild Group dominates the coastal course.

The author of an excellent start, the catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild won the first race on this 5th day of competition in Cowes. It came as a much deserved victory as Yann Guichard and his men led the race from beginning to end. As far as the ranking is concerned, this first place was just what the men of Gitana Team needed to…

par Gitana

An hour and a half prior to kick-off, the first race of the day – a coastal course – was still in doubt. In fact the organisers of the Extreme Sailing Series were awaiting confirmation about the manageability of the weather conditions for all the competitors. Fortunately the wind God decided not to overdo it this morning and served up around fifteen knots of breeze for the Extreme 40s to set off at 1000 hours. Absent from the competition yesterday, Mitch Booth had to withdraw from racing again today. Indeed, following serious damage to their dolphin striker, the crew of The Ocean Racing Club has been forced to throw in the towel for the rest of the event.

It’s no secret that in the Extreme 40 class, a good start is 90% synonymous with a good, or even very good result. This morning, Yann Guichard and his crew – Pierre Pennec, Thierry Fouchier and Nicolas Heintz – were not just bang on time at the startline but also perfectly positioned: “last night’s debriefing has borne fruit… during the pre-start phase the communication aboard was fluid and we positioned the boat exactly where we’d decided in the discussed timing. As such the next stage of events linked together perfectly and we were able to power away on port tack at the front of the fleet, which enabled us to quickly get a few boat lengths ahead of our pursuers. The rest of the race was a question of control and concentration” explained Pierre Pennec.

This afternoon conditions promise to be both full-on and wet, with an expected average wind of between 15 and 20 knots. The big seas of this morning will also provide the setting for this penultimate afternoon of racing.

Ranking for the Grand Prix of Cowes on 4th August (after 24 races)
1. The Wave, Muscat (Paul Campbell-James) – 158 points
2. Ecover Sailing Team (Mike Golding) – 150 points
3. Edmond de Rothschild Group (Yann Guichard) – 148 points
4. Oman Sail Masirah (Loïck Peyron) – 144 points
5. Red Bull Extreme Sailing (Roman Hagara) – 127 points
6. Groupama 40 (Franck Cammas) – 126 points
7. Team GAC Pindar (Nick Moloney) – 105 points
8. The Ocean Racing Club (Mitch Booth) – 79 points
9. Veolia Environnement (Roland Jourdain) – 32 points

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