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.

04.06.2003

Bound for Cagliari / south Sardinia….

Tuesday 3rd June 2003, Gitana has been put back in the water after a brief spell on the quayside in Ciotat (Marseille) on France's Mediterranean coast. Hauling out proved to be necessary following damage to the dagger board during the Challenge Mondial Assistance, before the 2nd Grand Prix of the season in Cagliari in Sardinia (12th to 15th June).

par Gitana

Tuesday 3rd June 2003, Gitana has been put back in the water after a brief spell on the quayside in Ciotat (Marseille) on France’s Mediterranean coast. Hauling out proved to be necessary following damage to the dagger board during the Challenge Mondial Assistance, before the 2nd Grand Prix of the season in Cagliari in Sardinia (12th to 15th June).

Although Gitana was only on terra firma for a short week, the Gitana Team was mobilised full time. The repairs needed were not extensive but did require a great deal of precision. Lionel Lemonchois, skipper : “First of all, the submerged part of the dagger board casing was inspected by ultra sound, known as tapping, to ensure that the hull had not been damaged when the dagger board broke off the coast of Portugal last month. Fortunately, just a few scratches and dents were apparent and have been touched up. Some of the marine paint has been touched up here and there and the underwater part of the central hull and floats have been sanded down to make her smoother and glide through the water more efficiently.

At the same time, as it was easy to gain access to the foil (skate) housings on the floats, we took the opportunity to change the incidence of the skate wedges, thereby changing the angel at which they enter the water and make them more efficient….”. A small change of just 3 degrees which has necessitated moving the centreline of the manœuvres by more than 25 millimetres, representing 4 days work.

Lastly, this year’s brand new mast has been checked over from tip to toe – nothing to report.

Newcomer

Nicolas Engel, one of the Swiss crew members announced at the start of the season that he would not be able to take part in the Grand Prix de Cagliari – he is racing his boat on Lake Geneva along with 450 others in the 65th edition of the Bol d’Or. He will be replaced in the pit (manœuvres with halyards and trim in the cockpit) by Frenchman Thierry Barot, a fellow America’s Cupper. Barot loves racing at close quarters and has experience of racing60-foot multihulls like Gitana as he has sailed with Paul Vatine (Groupe André) and Banque Populaire (Lalou Roucayrol). Thierry Barot : “…I’ve wanted to come and sail these boats in a Grand Prix, as I am not an ocean racer. I like battles where the result can be seen straight away…”

So the crew will be 11-strong once again for the 2nd Grand Prix where Gitana will still be lacking a little bit of power, as she has not yet recovered her new dagger board (the trimaran will be racing with a borrowed board).

Gitana will be leaving on her delivery voyage on Thursday 6th June with a crew of 5 on board (Lionel, Olivier W., Yann, François et Thierry), arriving in Cagliari on 7th if the weather in on their side, with some 400 miles (740 km) to cover between Marseille and the south east of Sardinia.

Crew for the Cagliari Grand Prix

Lionel Lemonchois / F :	Skipper
Benjamin de Rothschild :	Performer
Nicolas Berthoud / CH :	Mainsail
François Denis / F :	N°1 / Bowman
Philippe Durr / CH :	Tactician
Thierry Barot / F :	Pit
Jean-Baptiste Epron / F :	Mainsail trimmer
Marc Guessard / F :	Navigator
Jean-Paul Levrel / F :	Grinder
Yann Marilley / F :	Runner
Olivier Wroczynski / F :	Runner

More information about Cagliari Grand Prix

www.multis-online.com

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