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  • Gitana 18
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    • 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.

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    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.

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    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.

    Gitana 18’s daggerboard

    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.

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    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.

    Gitana 18’s coachroof

    08.12.2012

    Edmond de Rothschild Group dominates and secures pole position.

    The site for the final act of 2012 for the Extreme Sailing Series continues to delight, as much through the beauty as the sailing conditions for the nine competing crews. This Saturday, for the third day of competition, Edmond de Rothschild Group and its adversaries were able to show exactly what they were made of thanks to a good breeze, oscillati…

    par Gitana

    The site for the final act of 2012 for the Extreme Sailing Series continues to delight, as much through the beauty as the sailing conditions for the nine competing crews. This Saturday, for the third day of competition, Edmond de Rothschild Group and its adversaries were able to show exactly what they were made of thanks to a good breeze, oscillating between 9 and 16 knots. Over the course of today’s eight races, Pierre Pennec and his crew confirmed their determination. The catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild pocketed three victories and has managed to move up to the top step of the podium, with one day to go until the end of hostilities.

    Continually progressing since the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Pierre Pennec and his crew have had a great day this Saturday. Seventh on the first day and back in the top three yesterday evening, Edmond de Rothschild Group is now in first place with a six-point lead over the team in second place. The skipper of the French catamaran looks back on the weather conditions for today’s races: “Once again, the wind varied in intensity according to where you were on the race zone, with a little less breeze at the start than at the windward mark. The difficulty today was anticipating the wind rotations throughout the course and there were a number of them. However, overall the wind was stronger than yesterday and those are the kind of conditions the crew are fond of. The onboard communication was excellent and we really paid a great deal of attention to preparing for our races. We’ve had a real speed bonus since the start of the Grand Prix and this proved true again today. However, nothing gets done on its own in these physical, demanding conditions and everyone gave their all aboard Edmond de Rothschild Group.”

    With three race victories out of the eight contested this Saturday, the men of Gitana Team certainly have a right to be satisfied. However, more than the race wins, it’s a consistent performance they most cherish. Indeed, this latter element was what was lacking yesterday: “We were frustrated by our lack of consistency. All of a sudden, today the watchword was to be consistent. Indeed, much as we like winning races, on this circuit, it’s being in the top 4 in every race that pays. Today, everything panned out very well: the manœuvres, the tactics and the speed. We’re getting an increasingly good understanding of the race zone and we’re able to express our potential. Yesterday, we rounded off the day with a last place in the final race, but today we didn’t commit the same errors and the whole crew refocused to round the day off in style,” admitted Bernard Labro, bowman aboard.

    Tomorrow, it’s not only the results of the Grand Prix, which will be decided but also the final standing for the Extreme Sailing Series 2012. Currently lying in second place and making its presence felt over the past three days, The Wave Muscat looks to be heading for the title. However, there’s still everything to play for to secure second, third and fourth place. The calculations are simple: with a two-point deficit in the overall standing in relation to Oman Air, Edmond de Rothschild must finish ahead of Morgan Larson and his men, as well as ensure that there is another boat between itself and its Omani rival. With regards Red Bull Sailing Team, Pierre Pennec and his crew will only be able to allow a single one-design between them if Roman Hagara gains the edge tomorrow. The battle promises to be as intense as it is thrilling and the men of Gitana Team are ready to get down to business: “There is the overall standing, where there are three of us vying for the same spot, as well as a desire to add a Grand Prix victory to our list of wins. These two battles will be decided among the same three crews whatever happens, and together with The Wave for victory in Rio. Tomorrow the contact phases will be sure to be a lot more frequent and we’re expecting Morgan Larson to be on our tail. We’re ready for it though!” admitted Pierre Pennec.

    The final round of the 2012 race circuit kicks off tomorrow from 1400 hours (1600 GMT). These races will be broadcast live on the Extreme Sailing Series website (www.extremesailingseries.com) from 1500 hours (1700 GMT).

    “Infringed yacht”

    In the seventh race of the day, The Wave Muscat was the victim of a collision caused by the local crew Team Brasil. Believing that it was in the right during the incident, the Omani skipper called for a redress. Bernard Labro gives us more details about this situation: “The Wave Muscat reckons that one boat (Team Brasil in this case) fouled it. The mistake wasn’t its fault, but it prevented it from finishing the race. As such, it can make a request to the jury to be the infringed yacht. If the jury decides that it is indeed the infringed yacht, the calculation to determine the number of points that the boat picks up for this is as follows: they take the average from its races that day and improve its score by that number of points.” UltimatelyThe Wave Muscat’s request had a positive outcome and that’s why Leigh McMillan has a total of 138.2 points this evening.

    Provisional standing for the Rio Grand Prix (after 22 races)

    1. Edmond de Rothschild Group – 144 points

    2. The Wave Muscat – 138.2 points (after the jury)

    3. Oman Air – 125 points

    4. Red Bull Sailing Team – 124 points

    5. Alinghi -117 points

    6. SAP Sailing Team – 112 points

    7. GAC Pindar – 93,6 points

    8. Zoulou – 83 points

    9. Team Brasil – 61 points

    The crew of the Extreme Edmond de Rothschild Group

    Pierre Pennec (Skipper / Helmsman), Arnaud Psarofaghis (trimmer and traveller), Hervé Cunningham (headsail trimmer), Bernard Labro (bowman), Romain Petit (trimmer)

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