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.

15.05.2006

Gitana 11 comes fourth.

Frédéric Le Peutrec and his five crewmen - Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, Frédéric Guilmin, Ronan Le Goff, Antoine Mermod, Daniel Souben – arrived in Nice this Monday evening at 21:23 hours, giving them a race time of 7 days, 5 hours, 13 minutes and 3 seconds. Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, meanwhile, was roughly three miles behind them.

par Gitana

Frédéric Le Peutrec and his five crewmen – Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, Frédéric Guilmin, Ronan Le Goff, Antoine Mermod, Daniel Souben – arrived in Nice this Monday evening at 21:23 hours, giving them a race time of 7 days, 5 hours, 13 minutes and 3 seconds. Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, meanwhile, was roughly three miles behind them.

The helm transmission problem encountered just before the Balearics cost Gitana 11 dear, as she lost over twenty miles on this very important phase of the route. Her chosen route to the east of the archipelago, then out to ocean to sail down to Levant Island, was an interesting choice that could have enabled Frédéric Le Peutrec to get back in touch with the leaders for the final miles of the course. In fact, Gitana 11 had been gaining on the leaders from the Balearics to Porquerolles and the technical problems were even more of a pity as the narrowing gap would have at least left third place in the London-Alpes Maritimes race wide open. But the Gods conspired against the two Gitanas, who arrived at the very moment when the wind was totally evaporating. Consequently, it took Frédéric Le Peutrec and Co. over four hours to cover the last eight miles! And for Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, the situation was the same: no wind at all, not even a whisker…

It made for a long finale that was very taxing on the nerves of the two teams.

So it’s Franck Cammas (Groupama 2) who has won the day, but only by half an hour ahead of Pascal Bidégorry (Banque Populaire IV) and two and a half hours in front of Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant). The winner completed this highly varied route at an average speed of 12.67 knots.

London-Alpes Maritimes race rankings:

1-Franck Cammas (Groupama 2) in 6d 21h 03′ 04” at 12,67 knots on average over the 2,075 miles of the London-Nice route
2-Pascal Bidégorry (Banque Populaire IV) in 6d 21h 26′ 36”, 23 minutes 32 seconds behind the winner.
3-Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) in 6d 23h 33′ 22”, 2 hours 30 minutes and 22 seconds behind the winner.
4-Frédéric Le Peutrec (Gitana 11) in 7d 05h 14′ 03”, 8 hours 10 minutes and 59 seconds behind the winner.
5-Thierry Duprey du Vorsent (Gitana 12), 3 miles from the finish at 21:00
6-Antoine Koch (Sopra Group) 600 miles from the finish at 21:00

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