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.

18.07.2004

Gitana X back into the match.

Gitana X made a good tactical move overnight and has come back into contact with the peloton, even overtaking the trimarans of the Ravussin brothers and Laurent Bourgnon. There is still a big gap with the leaders but this return demonstrates the remarkable navigational skills of Marc Guillemot and his crew and most of all, his extraordinary fightin…

par Gitana

Karine Fauconnier (Sergio Tacchini) has just rounded the Fastnet Lighthouse in the lead, 70 miles ahead of the trio of followers – Géant, Groupama and Sodebo. Gitana X has managed to pull out in front of Banque Covefi thanks to the return of the wind in the south and her choice of course along 52° north. After having spent several days sailing in conditions which were nowhere near as favourable as for her opponents (medium beam wind), Marc Guillemot’s crew has latched onto much better weather pattern, with a 12-knot cross wind. Once the leaders had been lost after the passage of Newfoundland, Gitana X had never been able to catch up over the Atlantic as the best wind was always at the front of the fleet. The 500 mile gap acquired in four days has little chance of being reduced particularly as the first boats will have the wind on their side to finish their race.

So at around 07h30 (French time) on Sunday morning, Sergio Tacchini rounded the Fastnet rock at the southern tip of Ireland, the last race mark before the finish. She is well ahead of her closest opponents who are practically within spitting distance of each other. Classically, the final sprint to Saint Malo should not worry Karine Fauconnier and her crew in spite of the fact that they can expect to run into one or two windless zones along the way. However, the finishing order of the following boats is much less certain as Michel Desjoyeaux, Franck Cammas and Thomas Coville (the first three in The Transat) are neck and neck 70 miles from the leader. It is expected that this group, trailing the leader by around four hours, will reach the Irish coast towards the end of the morning. Which of the three will be first after the Fastnet ? It is impossible to give any realistic prognosis for the time being for these first arrivals expected into Saint Malo sometime during daylight hours tomorrow, Monday.

What is certain however, is that the finish is going to be very exciting indeed as the weather is very uncertain to say the least. This morning in Saint Malo, there was incessant rain and a 15 knot breeze, whilst at Ushant there was brilliant sunshine and a five knot wind…

Life on board Gitana X – sent by e-mail last night

« It’s very cold out here once again. For helming, we’ve dug out our lovely fluorescent orange gloves again which we bought from “La Tulipe”, the Québec version of the “Snow and Rock” shop, very « in » in Louise Basin where the trimarans were docked; They look very snazzy in our uniformly grey universe. The sun decided to put in a very timid but magnificent appearance today – amazing, does the world of good. An almost autumnal atmosphere in which we manoeuvre, one gybe after another, lowering and raising the foils due to an anemometer which keeps going up and down like a yoyo. Our routine the last three days came to a brisk end at the end of the afternoon with a wind which shifted from west-south-west to south. It was high time – we were starting to run out of ideas of how to keep the kids busy. You know what it’s like. They’re twiddling their thumbs in the galley, just won’t keep out from under your feet, eat any old rubbish and at night time there’s just no way to get them to sleep! The « old boys » (Luc, Olivier, Nicolas), don’t give us any gip. They keep themselves to themselves huddled around the computer screen. Between a couple of analyses of weather files, they tell stories of the “war” which the youngsters (Thierry and Erwan) listen to politely, with a smile on their faces. Luckily, we had to lower and roll the gennaker, unroll the Solent, move sails about up on deck and so on. Kept the kids occupied and gave them a bit of exercise. Did ‘em the world of good, particularly as a few hours later as night began to fall, they had to do the same thing but the other way round. Dialy family life on board Gitana X. » Nicolas, one of the « old boys ».

As for Gitana 11

the trimaran is making good speed as she continues her route towards the tip of Brittany where she is expected on Tuesday. Jean Le Houérou, Gitana Team Technical Manager has decided that it would be best for the repairs to be done at the CDK yard in Port-la-Forêt (south Finistère) where she was built three years ago. A new technical challenge for the Gitana Team which has to be ready for the start of the next Grand Prix in the ORMA 2004 season at the end of August at Fécamp, in Normandy.

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