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.

19.02.2008

Gitana 13 back in the north.

Lionel Lemonchois and his nine-man crew are again plying northern-hemisphere waters. They crossed the equator today, Tuesday 19 February, at 1:56'39' (French time), at a longitude of 97°W. Team Gitana thus spent 26 days 17 hours and 32 minutes covering the 7,500 miles between equator crossings in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

par Gitana

Lionel Lemonchois and his nine-man crew are again plying northern-hemisphere waters. They crossed the equator today, Tuesday 19 February, at 1:56’39’ (French time), at a longitude of 97°W. Team Gitana thus spent 26 days 17 hours and 32 minutes covering the 7,500 miles between equator crossings in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

On 23 January at 8:24am, the maxi-catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild entered the South Atlantic after crossing the line separating the northern and southern hemispheres. Now, 26 days later, Lemonchois and his crew have left the southern latitudes and returned to the north. With less than 2,600 miles to go before Gitana 13’s hulls reach the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the team’s ten sailors are ready for the home stretch of their attempt at breaking the record between New York and San Francisco.

“We’re in the thick of the doldrums, with big dark clouds loaded with squalls, and with winds fluctuating from 6 to 22 knots. But nothing too nasty for the time being. After the equator, there’s a big windless area up ahead. Our forecast is proving accurate, and we’re going to have to skirt around the east side of this low-wind barrier. We’re girding for 3 or 4 difficult days in the Intertropical Convergence Zone,” said Lemonchois in his daily message to his on-land team. In the days to come, Gitana 13 will again stray from the “orthodrome” (Ed.: the direct route), and its trajectory will curve eastward so the team can find the best route to the California coast.

Onboard, the team has begun to ration its stores. The maxi-catamaran’s crew planned for around 40 days of fresh food and freeze-dried alternatives—always less appetizing. After 33 days at sea and five days on forced stand-by near Cape Horn, the team is forced to adjust its eating habits: butter, cereal bars and the little things that make the day-to-day a little easier are running out. As a result, during their final days at sea—around ten, if the projections can be believed—Gitana 13’s skipper and crew will have freeze-dried dishes for most of their meals. Bad news for the taste buds, but just fine in terms of nutritional balance for the ten sailors.

Some words of encouragement

To quote Nicolas Raynaud in yesterday’s “Comment onboard,” Gitana 13’s crew is in shock. After hearing that Groupama 3 capsized off the coast of New Zealand during its run at the Jules Verne Trophy record, Gitana’s crew wished to send their heartfelt encouragement to Franck Cammas, his nine crewmembers and the rest of the team: “We are very sorry for what happened to them. Now, with the ten men having emerged unscathed from this sea adventure, we hope that they will be able to get their boat back into shape quickly and embark on new record attempts.

Retourner aux articles

Heritage