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.

21.05.2008

Gitana Eighty goes full throttle.

With the high emotion of yesterday somewhat dispersed, Loïck Peyron has got back into his rhythm and is hot-footing it towards the coast of Nova Scotia this Wednesday. Less than 550 miles from the finish, the monohull in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group was in the thick of the action this afternoon. The leader of The Artemis Transat, like hi…

par Gitana

Since yesterday evening, Loïck Peyron has been continuing his route towards Boston accompanied by the skipper of PRB, the latter forced to abandon his boat following damage to its keel. Though the situation is proving a little tricky for the skipper of Gitana Eighty, it is just as awkward for his passenger, Vincent Riou, who is trying to organise the salvage operation for his monohull, whilst trying to be as discrete as possible. This current scenario was clearly a rather unlikely one just 24 hours ago, when the two men were battling over first place: “This cohabiting is changing my rhythm and my habits but it is also complicated for Vincent. He had a good night and was very well behaved (laughs from both sailors)! The poor old thing is trying to do as little as possible but I think it’s fairly unsettling for him” admitted the skipper of Gitana Eighty, going on to say: “The few hours detour has put me on a slightly more N’ly course than the one I wanted to adopt, but it’s not necessarily an issue for the next stage in the game.”

In the middle of the day, the wind was already beginning to fill the sails of Gitana Eighty. 25 knots on the anemometer and rather chaotic seas weren’t enough to prevent the most recent of the Gitana fleet from slipping along downwind at over 15 knots: “The wind is really beginning to kick in again and it’s coming at us from pretty much every angle. I’ve put in a reef in the mainsail and I’m under solent. However, with the wind set to fill in, it won’t be long before I put in a 2nd reef and then hoist the staysail up forward.” Perfectly controlling his race, the skipper of Gitana Eighty is therefore preparing to reduce the sail area in order to take on the squalls and storms which will accompany the passage of the warm front. At the 1600 UT position report, Loïck Peyron was extending his lead, Armel Le Cléac’h racking up a deficit of 56 miles, and 136 miles for Yann Eliès in 3rd place.

In pole position in The Artemis Transat 2008, Loïck Peyron certainly isn’t kicking his heels along the way, instead making good ground towards Nova Scotia. Not far off this Canadian province, the skipper from La Baule on France’s Atlantic coast, will initiate his turn towards the finish: “The centre of the low is virtually dead ahead, or even a little further south, so I’ve ended up staying on a downwind point of sail and I’m slipping along nicely. The idea is to aim for the centre of this low. That should take me close to the coast of Nova Scotia. Once there I’ll have to negotiate another depression centre, but it won’t be as strong as the current one. There you have the programme for the coming days…” explained Loïck Peyron shortly before 1000 UT this Wednesday.

Tonight, the wind will climb progressively, reaching its height during the passage of the front. The anemometer should then skim 45 knots whilst the wind clocks round from the SW to the W… the whole lot coloured by storms. Work on a deck being constantly awash will provide the setting for this eleventh night at sea for the leading monohulls.

Ranking on 21st May at the 1600 UT position report
1. Gitana Eighty (Loïck Peyron) 550.8 miles from the finish
2. Brit Air (Armel Le Cléac’h) 55.7 miles
3. Generali (Yann Eliès) 136.1 miles
4. Safran (Marc Guillemot) 409.5 miles
(…)

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