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.

27.04.2004

Fred Le Peutrec and Gitana 11 qualified for The Transat.

Fred Le Peutrec set out from La Trinité sur Mer last Friday at 1 p.m. and was back in La Trinité at 11 p.m . Monday, completing his compulsory qualifying passage for The Transat, the English single-handed race which starts out of Plymouth (GB) on 31st May bound for Boston (USA).

par Gitana

Stepping down onto the pontoon, Fred announced that he was really pleased with the way the boat had handled during the 3 and a half day sail. He thanked his shore crew for their remarkable preparation carried out over the past three months during which the boat’s potential has continued to develop.

On this 1 000 mile long course in the form of a triangle running from La Trinité sur Mer in southern Brittany down to the north-west tip of Spain and the south-west tip of the Cornish coast of England, Fred sailed in a wide range of conditions covering various points of sail and speed, without ever coming across the extreme conditions met by Marc, skipper of Gitana X the week before.

Gitana 11 was therefore tested over an 82-hour period in differing sailing configurations to the great satisfaction of her skipper who admits having an « exceptional trimaran ».

After having had a short rest this morning, Fred is back on board to helm Gitana 11 at the start of this afternoon to join Gitana X for a final series of training sessions with the Pôle Finistère Course au Large, before the first Grand Prix in the season which starts on Friday and will run for three days in Trinité sur Mer.

Once this first meeting of the ORMA 2004 calendar is over, Fred and Marc who have got their qualifying passages out of the way will have a little more than one month to put Gitana 11 and Gitana X into solo configuration solo and fine-tune their preparation for The Transat.

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