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.

13.11.2008

Gitana Eighty leading at Madeira.

Setting out from Les Sables d'Olonne last Sunday at 1302 hours, the fleet of Imoca monohulls, which now comprises twenty-six competitors, is slipping along downwind in the tradewinds of the northern hemisphere, down the edge of the Azores High. The frontrunners have left the island of Madeira in their wake. Battling at the top of the leaderboard fr…

par Gitana

Setting out from Les Sables d’Olonne last Sunday at 1302 hours, the fleet of Imoca monohulls, which now comprises twenty-six competitors, is slipping along downwind in the tradewinds of the northern hemisphere, down the edge of the Azores High. The frontrunners have left the island of Madeira in their wake. Battling at the top of the leaderboard from the outset, Gitana Eighty is leading the way southbound this afternoon. In its wake, Sébastien Josse and Jean-Pierre Dick are keeping on the pace and Jean Le Cam is in ambush.

Indeed Loïck Peyron and Gitana Eighty have been leading the dance for three consecutive rankings today, which is certainly not down to luck: “You don’t get anything without putting in the effort! The boats are noisy and demanding and I have not yet managed to sleep properly since the start.” With these words, the skipper of the monohull equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild explained that his look-out position in the cockpit was still preferable today to his comfortable bunk down below.

The fierce gale which manhandled the fleet for the first few hours at sea has certainly left its mark on the sailors in the Vendée Globe 2008-2009… The most unfortunate of these have seen their round the world dream come to a brutal end, whilst others have had to turn back to make repairs in order to head back into the race, and the remainder have made it through. However, for those who are now slipping along in the Portuguese tradewinds, the jobs list is a hefty one as Loïck Peyron explains: “Two broaches have left their mark… During one of them, I damaged a starboard aft stanchion, which has since been repaired and I almost lost my genoa. I also experienced some problems with my automatic pilot, but it’s sorted itself out now.” Psychological warfare or modesty… each solo sailor has been discretely dressing the wounds on their various steeds. However, given the violence of the elements in the Bay of Biscay few seem to have come off scot free. As such, during the daily radio session at midday, Roland Jourdain and Vincent Riou – to name but a few – told of the difficulties they’d faced.

After four days at sea, the head of the fleet in this 6th edition is passing the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. Sailing along a ridge of high pressure on the eastern edge of the Azores High, the solo sailors are exploiting the now steady NE’ly tradewinds in a bid to make the Canaries and then Cape Verde, before lining themselves up to get through the first Doldrums in this round the world. For the monohull in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group, along with its rivals, the current strategy is clear: make as much headway as possible towards the equator.

The top four, led by Gitana Eighty, were grouped within 24 miles of each other at the 1600 hour ranking. Though Loïck Peyron, Sébastien Josse and Jean-Pierre Dick have opted to leave Madeira to port, Jean Le Cam has opted to pass to windward of the island.

Ranking on 13th November – 1600 hours (French time)

1. Gitana Eighty (Loïck Peyron) 22,570 miles from the finish
2. BT (Sébastien Josse) 13.6
3. Paprec Virbac (Jean-Pierre Dick) 18.2
4. VM Matériaux (Jean Le Cam) 24.1
5. Véolia Environnement (Roland Jourdain) 52.9
(…)
Abandons: Groupe Bel (Kito de Pavant), Aquarelle.com (Yannick Bestaven), DCNS (Marc Thiercelin) and Hugo Boss (Alex Thomson).

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