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.

03.08.2009

Second place and a winning air!.

After three days of intense racing within the majestic context of the Isle of Wight and a breathtaking final, the 3rd event in the iShares Cup has returned its verdict. The men from Oman Masirah have repeated their performance in France and stood out in front of Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group, who had a superb final day. The second Oman one…

par Gitana

In these windy conditions, which provided the fleet of Extreme 40s with fifteen or so knots of breeze throughout the weekend, the standard went up a notch aboard the 40 foot one design. Indeed, given that light airs leave competitors with a little room for error, the breeze means you can’t get away with any mistakes. Fortunately Yann Guichard and his men sailed a perfect series and were able to take a deserved second place: “It’s been the windiest Grand Prix since the start of the championship. As was the case in Hyères, we took a bit of time to get going but the essential thing is that we finished very well.”

Within just two points of the crew of Oman Renaissance last night, the Gitana Team didn’t let up today, and showed itself to be aggressive during the start phases and inspired during the races. The essential points gained here earned the team second place in this English stage. Prior to the last race of the day, renowned for scoring double points, the tension was at its peak. Gitana Extreme was 3^rd in the ranking with a one point deficit on Loïck Peyron. As such the maths is simple: the team that wins the race bags second place. “You had to be ahead! We got off to a good start and led out of the blocks. The first to round the windward mark we were leading the way but Renaissance really wasn’t far behind. At the leeward mark, he really came back on our team but he made an error by hitting us, which meant he had to perform a penalty. We then had a clear path and slipped along to take our second victory of the day. The racing was incredibly intense and the crew was extraordinary. We’ve fulfilled our mission and ended on a positive note” said an enthusiastic skipper.

Already dominating in Hyères at the start of July, the Masirah team has scored the double through its outstanding performance on the Solent. For three days Pete Cumming and his men were the best and the skipper of Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group could but salute them: “They were the best here as they sailed extremely cleanly. They’re giving us a good lesson in sailing… it’s a much deserved victory and their level of play is an extra motivation for the crew of Gitana Extreme.”

With three out of the six events in the 2009 schedule contested, we find ourselves midway through the iShares Cup season. As such it’s a good opportunity to assess Gitana Team’s performance: winners in the opening event whilst racing in the splendid Italian city of Venice, Yann Guichard and his three crew went on to score 4^th place on the French stage, before going on to take 2^nd place in Cowes. Some very fine results then, which logically put them at the top of the table and fully satisfy the hopes voiced by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. Finally, as regards the championship, the provisional ranking places Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group in ambush, just a single point behind today’s winner, Masirah.

After a few weeks’ break, the crew will be back together in Germany at the end of August, in one of the sailing hotspots: Kiel.

Crew of Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group

Yann Guichard (skipper-helm)

Pierre Pennec (mainsail traveller trimmer, tactics), Christophe Lassegue (headsail trimmer, control of manœuvres) and Hervé Cunningham (headsail trimmer, control of manœuvres)

Ranking at the Cowes Grand Prix (after 20 races)

1/ Oman Sail Masirah (Pete Cumming) – 189 points

2/ Gitana Extreme- LCF Rothschild Group (Yann GUICHARD) – 158 points

3/ Oman Sail Renaissance (Loïck Peyron) – 153 points

4/ BT (Nick Moloney) – 126 points

5/ iShares – Shirley Robertson – 121 points

6/ Groupama 40 (Gildas Philippe) – 120 points

7/ Luna (Erik Maris) – 108 points

8/ Holmatro (Carolijn Brouwer) – 94 points

9/ Ecover – Mike Golding – 86 points

10/ Bmw Oracle (James Spithill) – 0 point (Not present in Cowes)

Provisional Championship Ranking (after three events)

1/ Oman Sail Masirah – 27 points (4th, 1st, 1st)

2/ Gitana Extreme- LCF Rothschild Group – 26 points (1st, 4th, 2nd)

3/Oman Sail Renaissance – 24 points (3rd, 3rd, 3rd)

4/ BMW Oracle – 19 points (2nd, 2nd, 10th)

5/ Groupama 40 – 17 points (5th, 5th, 6th)

6/ BT – 17 points (6th, 6th, 4th)

7/ iShares – 12 points (9th, 7th, 5th)

8/ Luna – 10 points (7th, 9th, 7th)

9/ Holmatro – 9 points (8th, 8th, 8th)

10/ Ecover – 4 points (10th, 10th, 9th)

Retourner aux articles

Heritage