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.

16.05.2008

36 hours of unknown.

Excess speeds weren't on today's programme for the twelve solo sailors in The Artemis Transat 2008. As forecast, the calms have enveloped the head of the Imoca fleet and the sailors have simply had to put up with the conditions as they try to extract themselves from this tricky zone. At the 1400 UT ranking, the top trio, composed of Sébastien Josse…

par Gitana

Excess speeds weren’t on today’s programme for the twelve solo sailors in The Artemis Transat 2008. As forecast, the calms have enveloped the head of the Imoca fleet and the sailors have simply had to put up with the conditions as they try to extract themselves from this tricky zone. At the 1400 UT ranking, the top trio, composed of Sébastien Josse, Vincent Riou and Loïck Peyron respectively, were gradually starting to clock up more respectable speeds but they’re not out of the woods yet.

There are now just twelve solo sailors in the running in the Imoca class for this 13th edition of the race. Indeed, at the end of yesterday afternoon, Michel Desjoyeaux was forced to announce his withdrawal from the competition following impact with a whale. This encounter at over 10 knots of boat speed damaged the starboard daggerboard of his monohull and the skipper of Foncia preferred to turn round and head back to his home port in Brittany.

Aboard Gitana Eighty last night, Loïck Peyron spent more than two hours making 0 knots of boat speed and watched powerless as Sébastien Josse stretched away from him again in no time at all. This yoyoing proved hard on the nerves as the skipper from La Baule on France’s Atlantic coast described: “It was a storm of nothing last night! No wind, seas like a millpond and the sails flogging every which way… I alternated between little siestas and checks of Gitana Eighty, trying to make headway as best I could. We’re all in the same situation though! The current conditions are extremely rare in this transatlantic route” said the double winner of the event, who has racked up no less than five participations in The Transat (formerly the Ostar).

Sailing this afternoon in a slightly fresher breeze again, the skipper of Gitana Eighty was preparing for the wind to back from the NW to the W and then the SW. A rotation in which Loïck Peyron and his rivals will have to change tack to sail upwind on port tack: “There aren’t many tactical choices to be made at the moment but the point where each of us decide to tack will be important further down the racetrack” explained Loïck Peyron at the start of the afternoon.

Over the next 24 hours, the solo sailors will be looking to make as much headway as possible without asking themselves too many questions, but quickly their choices and little options will take shape. Naturally, it is at this precise moment that the organisation has opted to launch its position black-out. The timing has nothing to do with chance of course as, since the moment this idea came about, OC Events have been keen for this 36 hour black-out to coincide with a strategically important period in the race.

This evening at 1800 hours UT, Loïck Peyron will discover the final positions of his rivals prior to 36 hours of total silence. We’ll have to wait till the first position report on Sunday morning to see whether or not the hierarchy has been upset!

Ranking on Friday 16th May at 1400 UT
1. BT (Sébastien Josse) 1,728 miles from the finish
2. PRB (Vincent Riou) 22 miles from the leader
3. Gitana Eighty (Loïck Peyron) 35 miles back
4. Generali (Yann Eliès) 66 miles back
5. Brit Air (Armel Le Cléac’h) 67 miles back

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