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.

06.07.2003

Gitana. After Marseille….

As with motor sport where the machines progress with each season, the same is true of the fleet of 60 foot multihulls of the ROMA World Championship, which has just completed its 3rd Grand Prix in Marseille. Gitana finished 12th.

par Gitana

The crew continues its apprenticeship of the platform. The 9 rounds raced in the southern roads of Marseille on a superb course and in exceptional conditions – 10 to 25 knots of wind and brilliant sunshine – enabled the crew to put its fighting spirit to the test. An encouraging note in the last round where the team finished 7th. Most of all, this weekend’s event enabled important decisions concerning the evolution of the boat to be validated.

After three Grand Prix and several days of the Challenge Mondial Assistance (Cherbourg/F – Rimini/Ita), this year, a certain number of interventions absolutely have to be carried out to improve Gitana’s performance. After a brief pitstop in La Ciotat, the boat’s Mediterranean technical base, Gitana will be heading for Brittany where she will be hauled out at the Multiplast where she was built. Gitana should arrive in Vannes around 21st/22nd July where she will be staying for three weeks before being put back into the water in time for the Grand Prix de Fécamp (28th to 30th August).

During this short stop, the main things to be worked on will be the modification of the gennaker’s adjustment points, the gennaker being a balloon jib used for downwind sailing. The long poles (outriggers) set aft of the cockpit are going to be dismounted. Although this option meant that bigger gennakers could be carried, it has not turned out be efficient. This change will also represent a noticeable saving in weight. As for the dagger boards, the pivoting system is going to be improved upon, a minor incident in Marseille having meant withdrawing in one round. Lastly, the submerged part of the hull is going to be repainted – a coat of anti-fouling applied – to improve how well she slides through the water.

After the Grand Prix de Fécamp, she will be hauled out once again. Her headsail adjustment points are going to be changed, (for the purists, they are going to be brought further inwards). This operation will involve fitting new reinforcements onto the central hull to withstand major tension loads – which means moving the winches inside the cockpit. The “ears” they were fixed onto until now are going to be removed. All of this will enable a few more kilos to be saved, which is always a good thing.

To reduce drag, a new lifting rudder is going to be fitted to the central hull. Finally, the possibility of changing the foils (skates) is on the agenda as the change to the angle of incidence of the current foils is not entirely satisfactory. Not forgetting that Gitana is going to have a new mainsail and a new Solent jib for offshore sailing, with the Transat Jacques Vabre race which is run two-handed.

A duet

Marc Guessard, Gitana’s navigator will ebsharing the cockpit of the trimaran for the showcase event of the 2003 season, the two-handed transatlantic race from Le Havre (F) and Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) which is to start on 2nd November. Marc Guessard : “…it’s an extraordinary chance to be able to race two-handed on a machine like Gitana, what’s more with Lionel Lemonchois who is a great sailor. He has amazing faculties to anticipate what lies ahead. I’m going to have to prepare myself seriously to be up to scratch physically and psychologically. Perhaps I’ll take part in the two-handed race from Saint-Nazaire to Dakar on ‘Figaro’ in September. A good training session …“.

For now, Marc is going to sail Gitana from the Mediterranean up to the Atlantic along with Lionel. There’s no way around this voyage and it will serve as the qualifying sail which both sailors need to have for the transatlantic race. They have to sail at least 1,000 miles (1,852 km) in race conditions.

Grand Prix de Marseille. Provisional rankings

1/ Groupama, 2/ Belgacom, 3/ Géant, 4/ Sergio Tacchini, 5/ Sodebo, 6/ Bayer, 7/ Banque Populaire, 8/ Tim, 9/ Banque Covefi, 10/ Bonduelle, 11/ Sopra Goup, 12/ Gitana

ORMA World Championship (at the end of 4 competitions). Provisional Rankings

1/ Groupama, 2/ Géant, 3/ Banque Populaire, 4/ Sodebo, 5/ Sergio Tacchini, 6/ Banque Covefi, 7/ Belgacom, 8/ Gitana, 9/ Foncia, 10/ Bayer, 11/ Sopra Group (Did Not Qualify Bonduelle and Tim)

Everything about the Grand Prix de Marseille :

www.multis-online.com

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