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.

31.08.2017

Debut flights!.

par Gitana

A few weeks ago, on 17 July, the day of her launch in Vannes, south-west Brittany, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild joined the legendary Gitana line, a quite unique family maritime saga initiated by the Rothschild clan in 1876 on the shores of Lake Geneva. The fruit of nearly three years of work, the study and build combined, the 32-metre giant fitted out by Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild epitomises the daring and entrepreneurial spirit continuously demonstrated by her owners. Indeed, she is leading the way in a new generation of large flying offshore trimarans and, needless to say, her debut flights were eagerly anticipated…

Take-off immediate

Since the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild project was announced, the Gitana Team has been on a precise course, giving itself the resources to match its ambitions: designing and building the first flying offshore maxi-trimaran, a two-in-one craft capable of performing well in Archimedean mode, as well as being poised to ‘take off’ when weather conditions allow, with the ultimate aim of circumnavigating the globe singlehanded in 2019-2020.

A few weeks ago, with the launch of the latest addition to the Gitana fleet, the five-arrow team was finally able to put theory into practice with a series of sea trials. Taming the new steed and exploring the potential of this Verdier design day on day, this summer has been a studious one for Sébastien Josse and his men. However, it’s a beaming skipper who tells us of his first tacks and above all his debut flights: “We immediately saw that the boat was keeping her promises: stiff and safe and begging to unleash her power! When the two foils were installed in mid-August, we were very quickly able to trim them to make the switch from Archimedean mode to flight mode! The first time the boat took off was an incredible moment. We had 15-17 knots of breeze and flat seas, with waves of less than a metre… everything was in place to fly. Aboard the boat there was a mixture of excitement and surprise, as well as pride. Indeed, even though we’re only at the start, and well aware that we have everything to learn and a lot to discover, inevitably it’s hugely satisfying to see that we’re heading in the right direction.”

17! Decidedly, a figure that is tailor-made for the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild… Indeed symbolically, this first flight immortalised via drone by the team’s talented media man – Yann Riou – took place offshore of Lorient on 17 August 2017, one month to the day after Gitana 17 left the yard. For the first time, the 15.5 tonnes of the 32-metre giant were supported by the Maxi’s appendages; T-foil rudders and L-shaped foils for the floats, not to mention the skate-wing form on the daggerboard of the central hull, which didn’t go unnoticed during the launch.

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Switching from one mode to another, the discovery phase

“Since this first flight, we’ve be taking things step by step and getting a feel for the point of lift-off, which clearly takes the Maxi into another dimension. It’s as if we have two boats, classic Archimedean and classic airborne. Between one mode and the other, the boat handles very differently, in terms of the trimming naturally and also when we take off. The sailing angles change, as does the apparent wind, and the helmsman has to change the way he pilots the boat accordingly. These initial trials are very positive. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is safe and stable in flight and we’re gaining confidence with every sea trial to reach increasingly interesting target speeds,” the sailor explains.

Inevitably enthusiastic about these promising debut flights offshore of Lorient, Sébastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel are making sure they don’t lose sight of their short-term objective: the Transat Jacques Vabre, which sets sail from Le Havre on 5 November 2017: “flight logically forms part of the discovery phase of the boat, as it is one of her characteristics, but I reiterate the fact that it isn’t our main focus at this stage. In the Jacques Vabre, we’ll be up against crews who know their boat like the back of their hands… Thomas and I are trying to get in as much sailing as possible to make up for that and we’re doing lots of nights as any nocturnal sailing of over 12 hours equates to accelerated learning.”

PROGRAMME FOR MAJOR RACES

5 NOVEMBER 2017
Start of the Transat Jacques Vabre (LE HAVRE – SALVADOR DE BAHIA), double-handed race

4 NOVEMBER 2018
Route du Rhum (ST MALO – POINTE-À-PITRE), singlehanded race

AUTUMN – WINTER 2019
Round the world SETTING SAIL FROM BREST, singlehanded race

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