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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

    17.12.2020

    Franck Cammas elected Sailor of the Decade.

    As is the case every year, the Fédération Française de Voile (French Sailing Federation) rewards its champions. However, with 2020 being such a special year, it has had to adapt and come up with an election that differs from the norm somewhat. In this way, on Thursday 17 December, a jury of experts gathered together virtually to designate the Frenc…

    par Gitana

    As is the case every year, the Fédération Française de Voile (French Sailing Federation) rewards its champions. However, with 2020 being such a special year, it has had to adapt and come up with an election that differs from the norm somewhat. In this way, on Thursday 17 December, a jury of experts gathered together virtually to designate the French sailor deemed to be the best of his or her generation from 2010 through to 2020. And it is Franck Cammas who has been elected Sailor of the Decade, a rather prestigious award to add to his incredible list of achievements. However, in addition to the numerous victories racked up by the sailor originally from Aix-en-Provence, but expatriated to Brittany midway through the nineties, it is his multidisciplinary career ranging from offshore racing to Olympic sailing, not to mention the America’s Cup, which the jury chaired by Michel Desjoyeaux were keen to recognise through this title.

    Highly honoured to receive this distinction, the skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild shared his initial impressions with us: “We don’t practice our sport to receive distinctions, but it’s always wonderful when we’re decorated in this way, particularly so this year where the election covers the past decade. Since I started out in sailing, I’ve been lucky enough to get involved in some very varied disciplines: from crewed and singlehanded offshore racing, to small and very big boats, Olympic sailing and the highest level of match racing, with a notable participation in the America’s Cup. I have a voracious appetite for work and sailing and I love constantly developing and discovering new craft. Over the past ten years of my career, there have been some highs, with some very fine victories, as well as some lows, with failures and an accident during training in 2015, which could have had some serious repercussions. From these ten years, I inevitably treasure the tonnes of fantastic memories, but being at the helm of a French boat for the America’s Cup is both rare and exceptional. It was quite frustrating as we didn’t hold all the cards to defend our chances out on the water, but I retain very fond memories of it as it was a very powerful experience. With this distinction, inevitably my thoughts go out to Groupama, who supported me throughout a very large part of my career and to all the people in the team, thanks to whom I had the opportunity to be a part of all these fine challenges. Today, my daily life is being written with the Gitana Team and the whole Edmond de Rothschild Group. Over the past two years, Charles Caudrelier and I have been working flat out on this project. Gitana perfectly embodies everything I’ve learned over the past decade. From technology, to innovation and the very highest level of the sport. Flight has been the major revolution over recent years.  By joining the Gitana Team at the helm of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, I have joined in the pioneering approach of this whole team with regards offshore flight. I’m incredibly lucky and I hope that I’ll be able to enjoy so many fine challenges with the same degree of passion over the next ten years.” 

    This year, the president of the Jury for the Sailor of the Decade was a certain Michel Desjoyeaux, an extraordinary sailor who no longer needs an introduction: “I was delighted to learn the news from his lips! Mich has not only been a great inspiration for me, he was also a key figure in the early days of my career in Figaro. He enabled me to fast-track my learning and for me the Pôle d’entraînement training cluster in Port-la-Forêt is indicative of how today’s competitive sailing is able to boast the level of rigour and professionalism we are familiar with today”,  concluded the newly elected Sailor of the Decade. 

    However, Franck Cammas won’t have time to rest on his laurels. Together with Charles Caudrelier and the crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the sailor is back on stand-by to set sail on another attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy. Indeed, back in mid-November, the five-arrow team had to give up on their first attempt and retrace their steps after three days at sea as a result of damage to the boat’s port rudder and foil. After a few days of repairs in her port of registry in Lorient, the latest Gitana is back up to her full potential once more. As such it’s all systems go again and the weather cell is back together in the quest for the ideal window to attack the round the world sailing record.     

    Franck Cammas’ major victories, from 2010 to 2020 

    Jules Verne Trophy 2010, with Groupama 3, in a time of 48 days 7 hours 45 minutes
    Route du Rhum 2010, with Groupama 3 in the Ultime category
    Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 with Groupama 4
    Tour de France à la Voile 2013 with the M34 Groupama
    Sailor of the Year 2012 and 2013
    C-Class World Champion  2013 and 2015
    Rolex Fastnet Race 2019, with the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild
    Brest Atlantiques 2019, with the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild     

    Not to mention… 
    Olympic preparation on the Nacra 17 for the Olympic Games 2016 (not selected) 
    Participation in the America’s Cup 2017, skipper Team France   

    Jury to elect the Sailor of the Decade
    Michel Desjoyeaux, sailor, president of the jury to elect the Sailor of the Decade
    Henry Bacchini – Vice-President of the FFVoile
    Alain Pichavant – CEO of the Nautic Festival
    Lieutenant commander Patrice L’Hour – head of the Naval College’s Manœuvres grouping        Major Henri Duval – Technical Director of Military Sports and President of the International Military Sports Council

    Nine journalists
    Public votes which counted for two votes (over 16,000 votes this year)

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