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.

01.05.2004

Overall Rankings.

par Gitana

Sunday, May 2nd 2004 :

	Round 7	Round 8	Overall rankings	Points
1	Sergio Tacchini	Groupama	1 – Groupama	14
2	Groupama	Sodebo	2 – Sergio Tacchini	19
3	Foncia	Foncia	3 – Géant	37
4	Banque Populaire	Banque Populaire	4 – Banque Populaire	39
5	Gitana 11	Sopra Group	5 – Gitana 11	44
6	Gitana X	Géant	6 – Sodebo	50
7	Sodebo	Gitana 11	7 – Foncia (DNF)	52
8	Géant	Sergio Tacchini	8 – Banque Covefi	56
9	Banque Covefi	Banque Covefi	9 – Sopra Group	60
10	Sopra Group	Gitana X	10 -Gitana X	72

Saturday, May 1st 2004 :

	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Overall rankings
1	Groupama	Sergio Tacchini	Géant	1 – Sergio Tacchini 10pts
2	Sergio Tacchini	Groupama	Sergio Tacchini	2 – Groupama 11pts
3	Gitana 11	Géant	Groupama	3 – Géant 23pts
4	Géant	Banque Covefi	Gitana 11	4 – Banque Populaire 31pts
5	Banque Populaire	Sopra Group	Sodebo	5 – Gitana 11 32pts
6	Sodebo	Foncia	Banque Covefi	6 – Banque Covefi 38pts
7	Sopra Group	Sodebo	Banque Populaire	7 – Sodebo 41pts
8	Foncia	Gitana X	Sopra Group	8 – Sopra Group 44pts
9	Gitana X	Banque Populaire	Gitana X	9 – Foncia 46pts
10	Banque Covefi	Gitana 11 (DNS)	Foncia (DNF)	10 – Gitana X 56pts

Friday, April 30th 2004

	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Overall rankings
1	Sergio Tacchini	Groupama	Sergio Tacchini	1 – Sergio Tacchini 5pts
2	Groupama	Gitana 11	Groupama	1ex – Groupama 5pts
3	Banque Populaire	Sergio Tacchini	Banque Populaire	3 – Banque Populaire 10pts
4	Géant	Banque Populaire	Géant	4 – Gitana 11 14pts
5	Banque Covefi	Sodebo	Foncia	5 – Géant 15pts
6	Gitana 11	Banque Covefi	Banque Covefi	6 – Banque Covefi 18pts
7	Foncia	Géant	Gitana 11	7 – Foncia 21pts
8	Sopra Group	Sopra Group	Sopra Group	8 – Sodebo 23pts
9	Sodebo	Foncia	Sodebo	9 – Sopra Group 24pts
10	Gitana X	Gitana X	Gitana X	10 – Gitana X 30pts

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