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.

09.02.2008

New low-pressure system coming up.

As if to compensate Lionel Lemonchois and his team for the five days they had to wait at the door to the Pacific Ocean, the wind god Zephyr accorded his clemency yesterday to the men of the maxi-catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. This reprieve was highly appreciated by the team, especially since Gitana 13 was set to run into anot…

par Gitana

The sailing conditions experienced by the boat since rounding Cape Horn on Friday, 8 February at 12:54am (French time) and the formidable speeds that it was again enjoying stand in sharp contrast to the days spent in the shelter of Tierra del Fuego waiting for a window to open in the weather. Thierry Duprey du Vorsent expressed his contentment Friday, early in the evening: “It’s a real pleasure to get back the feeling of making progress. After spending long hours with no sails up while waiting to round the Horn, we’re now flying the big gennaker and the full main. We’re under full sail. The wind is blowing 25-28 knots, but the water is relatively smooth and manageable, so we’re on a reach, making good time. That’s a big change!” But at 55°S, conditions onboard the maxi-catamaran remain chilly: “It’s like being back in Brittany! The sky is overcast, a light drizzle is falling and the temperature is still pretty low. We need gloves, hats and multiple layers of polar fleece when on deck.”

After more than 24 hours of good progress, a new low-pressure system is forecast along Gitana 13’s path. Dominic Vittet and Lionel Lemonchois, with the on-land support of their faithful route-finder Sylvain Mondon, are carefully planning the coming hours: “We tacked along the coast yesterday afternoon and steered a course of 270°. Our goal now is to get as far west as possible so that we can sail along the eastern edge of the next low-pressure system. It will be pretty powerful, but by positioning ourselves this way we’ll be able to avoid the worst of the system and continue working toward the Easter Island high-pressure system. At least that’s the plan.”

Emotions run high for the new Cape Horners

With six first-timers among the boat’s ten sailors, it’s easy to see how intense a moment the rounding of the most legendary of the world’s capes was onboard Gitana 13. Dominic Vittet, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, Olivier Wroczynski, Fred Le Maistre, David Boileau and Léopold Lucet had a magnificent Cape-Horn baptism, as the 33-meter catamaran passed the famous rock a stone’s throw away. Lucet, the youngest crewmember, had the honor of steering the maxi-catamaran during this long-awaited moment.

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