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.

15.05.2006

Finish this afternoon.

The first five trimarans in the London-Alpes Maritimes race should arrive in Nice in the middle of Monday afternoon after 2,075 miles of ocean sailing. At 07:00, they were off Levant Island in an easterly to south-easterly wind and although light air is forecast for the end of the race, places on the podium remain very much up for grabs…

par Gitana

With less than half a day to go before the finish in Nice, nothing is decided yet! Four trimarans are still contesting the places on the podium and the weather conditions forecast for Monday leave room for plenty of possible permutations. Admittedly, Pascal Bidégorry and Franck Cammas were the first to drag themselves out of the high-pressure bubble off the Balearics, but their lead over Michel Desjoyeaux and Frédéric Le Peutrec remains limited. Despite being still about fifty miles off the pace at 07:00, Gitana 11 is well placed on the ocean to pass on the Porquerolles broadside, whereas the leading trio will have to change tack this morning to get around the island. In other words, a good twenty miles could be gleaned!

And with a light easterly headwind then forecast, followed by a slow rotation to the southeast while dropping further, there could still be some changes to the situation. For Gitana 12, the position is less favourable as she’s following the same trajectory as the three leaders, so with a gap of 75 miles and the leading trio no more than 85 miles away from Nice, a winning comeback looks highly improbable. Essentially, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent and Co experienced particular difficulties emerging from the Balearic archipelago, losing around thirty miles overnight.

But the Mediterranean has the habit of springing surprises: with the heat descending on the Côte d’Azur, the light breeze this Monday morning could very well become nullified by the thermals, which could result in a general assembly of the fleet in the Baie des Anges this evening. So the five trimarans could yet be at close quarters over the final few miles! Anything is possible…

Frédéric Le Peutrec onboard Gitana 11, Monday at 08:00

“We’re making good progress and we’ve taken an ocean route which could see us come back strongly against the leading trio. Because they’re by the coast, they’re going to have to change tack to pass Levant, whereas we can sail straight past. The current south-easterly 12-knot wind should move eastwards as we approach the shores of the Var region, which will force everyone to change tack, at least as far as Saint Tropez Bay. After that, the wind’s going to turn favourably towards the southeast, but it’ll be hot this lunchtime and the wind may drop off totally before Nice… We’re still very confident about the end of this race. There are still one or two tricks to try, like we did in the Balearics by effecting a series of gybes along the shores of Minorca, right in the middle of all the amateur sailors! We’re well out of the calm patches now and we’ve succeeded in breaking away from Gitana 12. There are still a hundred miles or so to go in light air and we’re far from being beaten… There’s everything still to play for !”

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