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.

29.05.2014

ArMen Race, clean start for Edmond de Rothschild.

par Gitana

With some 194 boats entered in the fourth edition of the ArMen Race, it was quite a spectacle on the water this Thursday afternoon off La Trinité-sur-Mer, south-west Brittany. For over half an hour, a quick succession of starts was given according to the different classes. The final group to head off involved the multihulls, which set sail at 1335 GMT. Powered up at over 18 knots, the Multi70s Edmond de Rothschild and Oman Sail, followed by the Multi50s and the Multi30s, made light work of picking off the rest of the fleet as they slalomed their way through en route to La Teignouse. For Sébastien Josse and his six crew, their ETA back in port in the Morbihan is late afternoon tomorrow Friday 30 May after completing their 310-mile course.

The long course for the fleet’s two ‘Ultimates’

Edmond de Rothschild and her adversary Oman Sail, will be the only craft of this fourth edition to complete the long course, which translates as some 310 miles ahead of the bows of the two 70-foot trimarans. Given the medium to light weather conditions forecast, the rest of the fleet will battle for supremacy over a looped circuit spanning around 200 miles, with a programme encompassing the famous Glénan Islands.

After the morning briefing, Sébastien Josse gave us the low-down on the course for the Ultimates: “We’re setting sail from La Trinité-sur-Mer. We have to respect the channel marks at La Teignouse, which heralds the exit from the Baie de Quiberon. After that, we’ll make towards the Occidentale de Sein via the south of Raz de Sein. That will involve a beat and we should make it there in the early hours of tomorrow, Friday, at around 0100-0200 GMT. After that we’ll begin to drop downwind towards Ile d’Yeu, which we’ll have to round, leaving the island to port. This section of the course is pretty open and, according to the latest grib files, we’re likely to have to put in a series of gybes to reach the mark. Finally, we’ll link onto a direct course back towards the Baie de Quiberon and La Trinité-sur-Mer, where the finish will be decided just off Trého, late afternoon tomorrow.”

Medium to light

In the ArMen Race, there has been a succession of editions, none of them reminiscent of the other. Last year, the competing crews really had their work cut out in a steady breeze. The lively conditions enabled Sébastien Josse and his men to complete the 320-mile race circuit in just 13 hours and 18 minutes. In 2014, in light of the weather conditions, Edmond de Rothschild’s crew were predicting twice as much time to complete what is virtually the equivalent distance: “The weather situation is less pessimistic than forecast and we’re likely to have breeze throughout the course. There will be a predominantly north-westerly breeze with a few variations in terms of intensity. As we set sail, there may be around fifteen knots, if the thermal breeze settles into position. It will tend to ease overnight, with a breeze of around ten knots or so forecast, but we hope that will be fleshed out a bit for the end of the race, tomorrow afternoon, again depending on whether the thermal breeze establishes itself,” Sébastien Josse admits.

At 1600 GMT today, the two teams leading the ArMen Race fleet – Edmond de Rothschild and Oman Sail – were just passing between Lorient and Ile de Groix, with Gitana Team appearing to have a slight edge over its rival.

Follow the race live at: http://yb.tl/armen2014#

The crew of Edmond de Rothschild in the ArMen Race

Sébastien Josse (skipper)
David Boileau, Florent Chastel, Jean-François Cuzon, Cyril Dardashti, Olivier Douillard, Antoine Koch

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