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.

14.07.2006

A good start.

After this opening day of the Portugal Grand Prix at Portimao, Gitana 11 lies second in the provisional rankings courtesy of two creditable second-place finishes on the first and third rounds. For Gitana 12, the early outcome is less promising but motivation is still running high!

par Gitana

3 rounds were held today, amidst a south-easterly wind which ranged from 8 knots at the start of the first round to as much as 20 knots during the second before falling to 6 by the end of the third stage. This highly unpredictable pattern left plenty of room for tactical manoeuvres on a course which, as the skippers had predicted, proved decidedly complex!

Although the majestic Groupama-2 won all three rounds on the day, the crew of Gitana 11 was also not short of inspiration, especially during the third round where an astute tactical move enabled them to rise from 4th to 2nd place!

Today, Gitana 11 welcomed on board a renowned guest, Mr Guy Frequelin, Director of Citroen Sport, who shared his impressions with us:
“it’s highly tactical and very technical at the same time. It really is sophisticated sailing. And in spite of all the tension, there’s also a little bit of time to relax and enjoy it! I’d already been lucky enough to sail on Gitana 11 at Fécamp but the boat wasn’t racing at the time so the conditions were completely different. In the race setting, you can feel the pressure and the tremendous focus of all the sailors. It’s a real privilege to be able to experience these moments.”

Loick Peyron, Gitana 11 skipper

“We were honestly a bit pessimistic about the possible weather conditions but in the end it was perfect… very interesting in sailing terms! We sailed very well, although we could even have been a tiny bit better! It’s true that we have to avoid focusing on Groupama-2, as once again, we’re not really in that league yet. We more or less have to wait for her to finish and accept the fact that we’re not going to be anywhere near her! We were talking about it with Mr Fréquelin, who we were delighted to welcome on board, incidentally. He fully understands the situation: while the talent of the sailors is very important, it can often be the machine that makes the difference.”

Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, Gitana 12 skipper

“We’re going to try to be constructive, without donning the rose-tinted spectacles… We didn’t perform as well as we could have. We had trouble finding our feet on this first day, we lacked aggression at the starts and weren’t incisive enough! We also made a bit of a hash of our manoeuvres, but we’ll put it behind us and hopefully do better tomorrow!”

Gitana 11 crew at Portimao:

Loick Peyron (skipper/helmsman), Lionel Lemonchois (navigator), Yann Guichard (tactician), Daniel Souben (trimmer), Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant (trimmer), Jean-Baptiste Epron (trimmer), Ronan Le Goff (wincher), Christophe Lassègue (bowman No. 1), François Denis (Bowman No.2), Antoine Mermod (piano), Alexandre Quiblier (wincher)

Gitana 12 crew at Portimao:

Thierry Duprey du Vorsent (skipper-helmsman), Baron Benjamin de Rothschild (performer), Erwan Le Roux (tactician), Mayeul Riffet (navigator), Alexandre Marmorat (trimmer), Mathieu Tatibouet (trimmer), Arnaud Derrendinger (trimmer), Antoine Carpentier (piano), Yann Le Govic (trimmer), Léopold Lucet (Bowman No.1), Fabrice Blondel (wincher)

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