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.

01.10.2004

Gitana 11 in great shape.

As expected, the total lack of wind in the early hours of Friday morning required lots of patience from the 7 boats remaining in the last event of the ORMA 2004 Championship. Three hours later than had originally been planned, the starting shot of the first round was finally fired (13h 26), on a glassy sea and in a light unsteady thermal breeze of…

par Gitana

The 7 competitors still in the running – after the withdrawal of Tim at the end of the Corsican Grand Prix and Sodébo and Banque Covéfi yesterday after having dismasted in training – were able to run two rounds yesterday.

Summary of the first round :

Sopra Group, the only trimaran to have set off on the port tack, took the first round. An option which turned out to be the right one as the circuits favourites, including Gitana 11, did not manage to get the upper hand. Setting out on the starboard tack like the 5 other multihulls, Gitana 11 lost a bit of ground on the first upwind leg rounding the first mark in 5th position, a position she held onto through to the end of the run downwind. To get back into the swing of things, Gitana 11w as the first to sail an offset leg off on the starboard tack for a few minutes. At that moment in time, the wind was already rather light and fickle to say the least, easing off to the right of the course where Groupama, Foncia and Sergio Tacchini all were, but remained constant to the left where Gitana 11 was. Appearing in the top three on the second round, Gitana 11 took 3rd in this first round 34 seconds behind the winner.

Summary of the second round :

Groupama II claimed victory in the second round in highly fickle winds. The course had got off to a good start in a nice 15 knot south-westerly breeze, which soon dropped to 6-8 knots, to become highly unstable in strength and direction. On this highly sensitive course, Gitana 11 did not get off to a good start and did well to finish 4th in this round, taking her to 3rd in the provisional overall rankings. Her crew got their heads down, and right through to the end concentrated on getting back into the match, focusing all their attention on avoiding the wind holes which were scattered all over the course. One of the finest images of the day was to be seen as Gitana 11 and Banque Populaire approached the finishing line neck and neck, Banque Populaire finishing 5th a hair’s breadth behind Gitana 11 in this second round.

Crew of Gitana 11 for the Grand Prix de Marseille

1-Frédéric Le Peutrec
2- Baron Benjamin de Rothschild
3- Yann Guichard
4- Yann Marilley
5-Christophe Lassègue
6-François Denis
7-Jean Baptiste Epron
8-Nicolas Berthoud
9-Fred Brousse
10-Xavier Dagault
11- Yann Eliès

RESULTS FOR TODAY

Result – Round n°1 / Start : 13h 26 – Finish : 14h 52

1 – Sopra Group – 1 point
2 – Groupama II – 2 points
3 – Gitana 11 – 3 points
4 – Sergio Tacchini – 4 points
5 – Foncia – 5 points
6 – Géant – 6 points
7 – Banque Populaire – 7 points
8 – Sodébo – DNS – 9 points

Result – Round n°2 / Start : 16h 08 – Finish : 17h 10

1 – Groupama II – 1 point
2 – Sergio Tacchini – 2 points
3 – Foncia – 3 points
4 –Gitana 11 – 4 points
5 – Banque Populaire – 5 points
6 – Géant – 6 points
7 – Sopra Group – 7 points
8 – Sodébo – DNS – 9 points

Overall rankings after two rounds

1 – Groupama – 3 point
2 – Sergio Tacchini – 6 points
3 – Gitana 11 – 7 points
4 – Sopra Group – 8 points
5 – Foncia – 8 points
6 – Géant – 12 points
7 – Banque Populaire – 12 points
DNS – Sodebo – 18 points

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