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.

24.09.2003

Cockpit modification….

Gitana is currently undergoing her most important "operation" to date at her base in the Multipôle 56 in La Trinité-sur-Mer (French Atlantic coast). Work announced to lighten the trimaran with a view to her participation in the season's leading event of the year, the two-haanded Transat Jacques Vabre.

par Gitana

Gitana is currently undergoing her most important "operation" to date at her base in the Multipôle 56 in La Trinité-sur-Mer (French Atlantic coast). Work announced to lighten the trimaran with a view to her participation in the season’s leading event of the year, the two-haanded Transat Jacques Vabre.

Immediately after the Grand Prix de Fécamp (Channel coast) held at the end of August, Gitana has had her mast unstepped and has been hauled out and put into the shed. The permanent members of the Gitana Team including the assistance team – Léo, Lucas and Laurent – dismounted all the gear from the cockpit very quickly and cut away her famous “ears”. These extensions which stuck out on either side of the central cockpit’s aft helming station bore the headsail winches and their travellers. Once the removal operations were complete, including the cross bracing spreaders and flooring, the work began on the composite reconstruction of the cockpit. Yann Marilley : “…Lionel (Lemonchois) has redesigned the cockpit to optimise the repositioning of the gear and to enable headsails to be trimmed more effectively. It’s a big job which will keep us busy through to the end of September. As for the laminate work, we have been working non-stop for a whole week, the team working in shifts to keep going night and day. Once this stage has been completed, all of the winch transmissions need to be overhauled adding a winch to the general coupling system…“.
Setting aside the improved efficiency in manoeuvring, this operation will save an estimated 80 kilos.

Obsession

Losing weight has become a leitmotiv within the Gitana Team. Whilst the laminators were working on the structure, Olivier Wroczynski alias “Zolive” was carrying out major changes to the on-board computers. The two original computers have been removed in favour of a specific watertight unit (which can withstand the connection of all equipment), and a back-up laptop PC. “Zolive” has also worked on improving the boat’s automatic helm which will have improved performance software. Zolive: “… until now, we’ve used the automatic pilot as a course-holding instrument. It is much better to be able to use it in ‘intelligent mode’ to follow the true wind variations. Once she is back on the water, we’ll have lots of trials to carry out ; particularly lots of sea trials so that the automatic pilot gets used to the boat, so that it records the trimaran’s behaviour in order to be more reactive and as efficient as possible…“

Gitana’s relaunch is scheduled to take place on 6th October, with the aim of sailing as much as possible before setting out for Le Havre, where she must be by Friday 24th October at 10h00 GMT.
Find out more about the Transat Jacques Vabre : www.jacques-vabre.com

Training

As skipper Lionel is in south Brittany overseeing the modifications to her trimaran, his alter ego for the Transat Jacques Vabre, Marc Guessard, is busy racing a Figaro one design with Franck-Yves Escoffier from Saint-Malo. Still mad about a class of boat where he sailed brilliantly well (3rd in 1997), he is battling it out with the leading group in a race from Saint-Nazaire (Atlantic coast) to Dakar (Senegal). At the time of writing, he was lying 3rd as the fleet rounded Cap Finisterre (north-western tip of Spain), just 4 miles behind the leader. A two-handed offshore race perfectly suited to his preparation for the Jacques Vabre Transatlantic race.
Keep up with Marc Guessard : www.trophee-bpe.com

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