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.

28.08.2004

Gitana Team : such a fine day’s racing.

Conditions for today's racing could not have been more different with a welcome return of the summer in Normandy throughout the three legs contested on this second day of the Grand Prix de Fécamp. Yesterday's bad weather seemed a world away though the memory of the capsize of Gitana X, at the end of the first leg on Friday, still fuelled conversati…

par Gitana

Conditions for today’s racing could not have been more different with a welcome return of the summer in Normandy throughout the three legs contested on this second day of the Grand Prix de Fécamp. Yesterday’s bad weather seemed a world away though the memory of the capsize of Gitana X, at the end of the first leg on Friday, still fuelled conversation this morning.

While the 9 crews cast off early this morning bound for the race zone in the bay of Fécamp, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild co-ordinated activities with Gitana Team’s shore crew and Marc Guillemot’s crew to secure Gitana X’s platform.

Yesterday’s weather conditions prevented any attempts for the Team to intervene rapidly. As a result Gitana X spent the night at sea, anchored so as to control its drifting. Today’s calm finally provided the divers with the opportunity to go under the platform and cut through the mast to free the boat of its rigging. The lifeboat association then took over to tow the boat to the basin of Fécamp’s commercial port where operations to lift and right the boat should be performed as soon as possible.

On the water the 9 trimarans out racing put on a fantastic show, linking together three legs during the day. The action opened with a windward leeward course, followed by a 30 mile coastal course and completed by a final windward leeward course. The light breeze that was blowing between 5 and 10 knots today, meant that composure was paramount in the tactics with maximum concentration in the manœuvres and rounding of marks. Sergio Tacchini and Gitana 11 came off best in this delicate game.

This evening, Gitana 11’s crew are really in contention for a fine place on the podium of this Grand Prix de Fécamp, closing down hard on leader Sergio Tacchini. Supported by a crew that is increasingly bonded and high performance, the tandem of Fred Le Peutrec at the helm and Yann Guichard on the tactics, has impressed everyone today with Gitana 11 ranking 3rd, 1st and 2nd respectively during the day’s legs, with a provisional 2nd place in the general ranking after 4 legs, just one point behind Sergio Tacchini who are currently under threat from an appeal by Groupama in leg 3.

Tomorrow promises to be windier than today but still considerably lighter than yesterday. There are still a possible 3 legs to be raced tomorrow but the Grand Prix de Fécamp has already been validated by a total of 4 legs contested yesterday and today.

Results of the second leg of the Grand Prix de Fécamp :

1 – Karine Fauconnier (Sergio Tacchini)
2 – Lalou Roucayrol (Banque Populaire)
3 – Fred Le Peutrec (Gitana 11)
4 – Stève Ravusssin (Banque Covefi)
5 – Franck Cammas (Groupama II)
6 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant)
7 – Alain Gautier (Foncia)
8 -Thomas Coville (Sodebo)
9 – Philippe Monnet (Sopra Group)
DNC – Yves Parlier (Mediatis-Région Aquitaine)
DNC – Marc Guillemot (Gitana X)

Results of the third leg of the Grand Prix de Fécamp (provisional):

1 – Fred Le Peutrec (Gitana 11)
2 – Karine Fauconnier (Sergio Tacchini)
3 – Franck Cammas (Groupama II)
4 – Alain Gautier (Foncia)
5 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant)
6 – Lalou Roucayrol (Banque Populaire)
7 – Thomas Coville (Sodebo)
8 – Stève Ravusssin (Banque Covefi)
9 – Philippe Monnet (Sopra Group)
DNC – Yves Parlier (Mediatis-Région Aquitaine)
DNC – Marc Guillemot (Gitana X)

Results of the fourth leg of the Grand Prix de Fécamp :

1 – Franck Cammas (Groupama II)
2 – Fred Le Peutrec (Gitana 11)
2 – Karine Fauconnier (Sergio Tacchini)
4 – Thomas Coville (Sodebo)
5 – Alain Gautier (Foncia)
6 – Lalou Roucayrol (Banque Populaire)
7 – Stève Ravusssin (Banque Covefi)
8 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant)
9 – Philippe Monnet (Sopra Group)
DNC – Yves Parlier (Mediatis-Région Aquitaine)
DNC – Marc Guillemot (Gitana X)

Provisional General Ranking after 4 legs

1 – Karine Fauconnier (Sergio Tacchini) : 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 7 points
2 – Fred Le Peutrec (Gitana 11) : 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 8 points
3 – Franck Cammas (Groupama II) : 3 + 5 + 3 + 1 = 12 points
4 – Lalou Roucayrol (Banque Populaire) : 5 + 2 + 6 + 6 = 19 points
5 – Alain Gautier (Foncia) : 4 + 7 + 4 + 5 = 20 points
6 – Stève Ravusssin (Banque Covefi) : 6 + 4 + 8 + 7 = 25 points
7 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) : 7 + 6 + 5 + 8 = 26 points
8 – Thomas Coville (Sodebo) : 8 + 8 + 7 + 4 = 27 points
9 – Philippe Monnet (Sopra Group) : 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 36 points
10 – Marc Guillemot (Gitana X) : 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 48 points
10 ex-Yves Parlier (Mediatis-Région Aquitaine) : 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 48 points

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