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.

12.11.2002

Gitana X back to her home port !.

It was 11:40 French time (10h40 GMT) when Gitana X, with the upper part of her mast broken, arrived at the pontoon in La Trinité-sur-Mer, her base in southern Brittany (France). With the help of his assistance team, who met him at sea aboard Zodiac two hours earlier, Lionel Lemonchois finally managed to lower the main sail and prepared the boat for…

par Gitana

It has taken Lionel 17 hours to bring his injured boat back to the harbour. The skipper had sent, yesterday at 18:30 French time (17:30 GMT), a message revealing the mast damage, which had occurred in the middle of the bay of Biscay, while he was sailing upwind with his reefed-up main and the small jib, under 20 to 25 knots (35 to 45 km/h) of south-westerly wind.

Gitana X arrived under a serious squall in the Quiberon bay. Everyone thought that lowering the main sail would take quite a bit of time. But, as an experienced sailor, Lionel had prepared everything.

First of all, he had managed to get the broken part of the mast (7 meters long) up on deck : “I pulled on it all night long. It did not come easily, so I took 10 minutes of sleep, then I went back to it again. It eventually came down – it kept my hands and my head busy..“.

A necessary activity, which helped to cope with frustration and disappointment : “I don’t have the feeling I made a mistake. I was sailing properly with the sails I had up there, I can even say I was underpowered. My main goal was to reach Guadeloupe (FWI). I was inside when the mast broke. I heard a little noise, so I went up on deck. I saw that the boom and the sails were still in place. I got the picture when I saw the mast portion hanging to leeward“.

Telling his story calmly, in a low voice, his face looking tired from an agitated night, Lionel showed some signs of disappointment : “I’m somewhat shaken. This is not what I had planned. But these boats are quite fragile, rather hard to handle. It would be a good thing to know why the mast broke..“.

Point of view

“By retiring, due to the mast breakage, underlines Benjamin de Rothschild, the boat’s owner, Gitana joins the already long list of trimarans that are out of the race only 48 hours after the start of the 7th Route du Rhum. But it’s a mechanical sport, where the time factor plays an essential role in the boat’s performances. And it’s obvious that with a late launch just 2 months before the start and only 2000 miles of sea trials, we’re only at the beginning of our story with Gitana X, a boat we wanted to be very innovative. It’s certainly not the last incident we will have to cope with in the set-up process. Of course, the Gitana Team is quite disappointed, because human and emotional investments are quite consequent in this type of projects, but no one was injured apart from the boat, and we’re ready to go back to work for the next season“.
Benjamin de Rothschild, boat’s owner.

“Lionel has offered us a beautiful race debut, says Olivier Besse, Gitana Team Project Manager. We knew he wanted to take a safe start in order to get to know the boat. His progression showed us that he was acquiring some confidence, building up speed. I wish to congratulate him for that. I also wish to thank him to have brought Gitana X safely back home, without further damage than the broken mast, which has probably not been easy given the kind of weather he encountered on his way back towards La Trinité. Concerning the assistance team, the members displayed their professionalism, coping with the situation along with Lionel. The Gitana Team proved to be tight and very reactive in this context“.
Olivier Besse, project manager’s.

High-resolution copyright-free pictures for press purposes : Gitana and Lionel Lemonchois, at sea and ashore, arriving in La Trinité-sur-Mer : www.pixsail.com and upon request from the press office (photo credit : Photos Gitana SA + photographer’s name)

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