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.

08.04.2008

Difficult up front!.

After nine and a half days at sea, the bows of the maxi-catamaran in the colours of LCF Rothschild Group are now positioned less than 730 miles from the finish. However, the last few hours at sea, in this North Pacific record attempt, promise to be intense for Lionel Lemonchois and his ten crew.

par Gitana

Gitana 13 are fast approaching the finish, but vigilance is key aboard the 33 metre maxi-catamaran. Indeed, to complete the North Pacific crossing, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew will have a sizeable obstacle to tackle: a disturbance and its associated warm and cold fronts. On the menu, strong winds may reach 50 knots and will be accompanied by big seas.
These particularly harsh conditions will require a great deal of concentration at all times on the permanent deck watch. This will be the case for both the helmsman and the crew in charge of the sheets. It’s also a safe bet that those crew on standby watch won’t be far behind them either to lend a helping hand on the giant platform as often as is necessary.

Under three reefed staysail or ORC, the eleven sailors of Gitana Team will have to protect themselves, whilst continuing their progress towards Yokohama. “For Lionel and his crew, the objective is to get as close as they can to the centre of the low so as to be able to sail in less violent winds: they’re going to gain fresh impetus at the centre of the low and they will make the most of this slightly more ordered zone to make a gybe and head north. Indeed, the weather situation is forcing them to shift over to the north in order to have a manoeuvrable boat, whatever the wind throws at them over the final miles prior to entering Yokohama Bay” explained Sylvain Mondon, himself on permanent watch from the Météo France offices in Toulouse.

Tonight, downwind on starboard tack in winds bordering 27 knots, the skipper of Gitana 13 and his men have made the most of the situation to extend their lead over the reference time set by Olivier de Kersauson back in 2006 in a time of 14 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes and 41 seconds. At the 0830 ranking this morning, Gitana 13’s lead had stretched to 846 miles, compared with 606 miles at the same time yesterday; a figure which should increase further still before the finish.

According to the latest estimates, the maxi-catamaran equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild may well make its entrance into Yokohama Bay during the course of the day on Wednesday. However, it will be necessary to wait for Gitana 13 to extract herself from the worst of the low prior to taking a closer look at a more precise ETA.

The men on Gitana 13
Lionel Lemonchois (Skipper / helmsman / watch leader)
Jacques Vincent (helmsman / watch leader)
Ludovic Aglaor (helmsman/ watch leader)
Cyril Dardashti (trimmer)
Olivier Wroczynski (trimmer /computing manager)
Jean-Baptiste Epron (trimmer / Photographer)
Nicolas Raynaud (trimmer / Video manager)
Stefan Fodor (trimmer)
Kojiro Shiraishi (trimmer)
David Boileau (N°2 /trimmer/ deck hardware manager)
Léopold Lucet (N°1 /manager of supplies and medical needs)

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