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.

01.12.2019

Azores in the line of sight.

par Gitana

The Brest Atlantiques fleet has been attacking its twenty-seventh day at sea this Sunday from 11:00 hours. Since their return to the northern hemisphere, the leader and her two pursuers are no longer sailing in the same weather system. Indeed, with this 600-mile lead on exiting the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone, Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier have been able to hook onto the NE’ly trade wind and, light as it is, they’ve been able to climb up towards the Azores on a virtually direct course before they hit the home straight to Brest. Astern of them, Macif and Actual Leader have not been so lucky and are having to take the long way round via the West to hunt down a ride with the next weather system.

Finally, the accordion effect works in the leaders’ favour

Late on Friday, François Gabart and Gwénolé Gahinet had pulled back to within 550 miles of the latest Gitana, whilst Yves Le Blevec and Alex Pella were a little over 600 miles off the pace. However, over the course of the weekend, the duo on Edmond de Rothschild have managed to really make the most of the sequence of weather systems to increase their lead by over 200 miles! Finally, the wind gods appear to be smiling on the leaders, which has never really been the case before in this Brest Atlantiques. It’s a scenario that is sure to appeal to our duo just days away from the finish, though they’re in no way letting down their guard.

In fact, though their pursuers have proved to be faster in terms of outright speed over the past thirty minutes, the same cannot be said of their VMG over the past 24 hours. By VMG we mean their velocity made good in terms of the distance to the goal. The reasoning behind this is that the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has benefited from her lead at the head of the fleet to link onto a N’ly route very close to the direct course, whilst her pursuers haven’t got the timing right and are consequently having to set a course to the West, distancing themselves from the finish in a bid to chase down the next weather system.

A gybe at the Azores before setting a course for Brest

Tomorrow, the skippers of Gitana Team will reach the Azores. Once they’ve got the Portuguese archipelago in their wake, one last gybe awaits them before they can set a course for Brest. If they’re in line with the targeted timing, this final straight could well be negotiated in relatively fast conditions: “Initially we’ll have a S’ly wind, but it will back round to the East. That’s indicative of a fairly calm and sunny finish, though it will be cold. In the meantime, we still have a lot of work to do and we’ll notably have a few hours at 25 knots where we’ll have to find the right compromise!” explained Charles Caudrelier.

=> TODAY’S VIDEO

“Focusing on the route to get there is a way of thinking about the finish!”

At the 15:00 UTC position report, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild was about 1,500 miles from Brest; the equivalent of three to four days at sea according to the latest weather forecasts. As such, the finish is inevitably on the minds of the men on-board. However, through superstition or modesty, they don’t really like to discuss the matter! Despite all that, in a dusk atmosphere, they were able to get personal with their media man Yann Riou as he picked their brains about their mindset just a few days from the denouement of the Brest Atlantiques.

This latest video offers us some fresh aerial footage of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. Always more than willing to treat us to some unique shots, this Sunday Yann Riou flew his drone for 30 minutes before sunrise!

Watch the video

Ranking on 1 December 2019 at 15:00 UTC

1. MAXI EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD (Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier / Yann Riou) – distance to the goal: 1,521.8 miles – average speed over the past 30 mins: 22.6 knots

2. MACIF (François Gabart / Gwenolé Gahinet / Jérémie Eloy) – 834.8 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 25.4 knots

3. ACTUAL LEADER (Yves Le Blevec / Alex Pella / Ronan Gladu) – 867.0 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 28.0 knots

RETIREMENT – SODEBO ULTIM 3 (Thomas Coville / Jean-Luc Nelias / Martin Keruzoré)

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