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.

27.04.2003

Grand Prix de Lorient. Discovery.

A lesson for the Gitana Team during this first competition : the lack of sailing before the race meant that the crew had not had found the boat's optimum adjustments. The Gitana trimaran had a tough time in the first rounds, but finished on an encouraging note with a second 8th place

par Gitana

A lesson for the Gitana Team during this first competition : the lack of sailing before the race meant that the crew had not had found the boat’s optimum adjustments. The Gitana trimaran had a tough time in the first rounds, but finished on an encouraging note with a second 8th place

Lionel Lemonchois : “We finished 10 seconds behind Géant (Michel Desjoyeaux) in the last round and they were out to win this Grand Prix. We put up a good fight. We’re getting better. But there’s still a lot more work to be done before we’re up there with the best of them.” Gitana’s skipper is lucid, knowing only too well that it will take time to get Gitana up to her best and find out what she is really capable of. But at least, he can be satisfied with two important things – firstly, there was no gear failure during what was a rather windy Grand Prix (apart form a mainsail batten due to an error during a manoeuvre). Proof that the boat was well prepared and that lots of thought had gone into fittings and scantlings options. Finally, the French-Swiss crew manoeuvred almost perfectly, in spit of having sailed together so little. “That’s sport for you. You haven’t got a minute to yourself. It’s great. We had a great time…” declared Jean-Paul Levrel, grinder at the end of the second round on Saturday when the wind exceeded 35 knots (Force 8) in a squall and Gitana flew downwind through the waves.

Unanimous verdict on the dockside where the crew admitted that the entry level was extremely high this year with 11 boats taking part. The slightest error was paid for dearly. Gitana paid the price of hers in the 6th round where she was in 6th position at the first windward mark in the middle of the leading pack, and could not unfurl her gennaker (big balloon jib), loosing 5 places by the following race mark.

Pit Stop

No sooner had the Grand Prix finished than Gitana got underway for her home port of La Trinité sur Mer (40 km to the south) where a new race against the clock is awaiting them. The trimaran has to be hauled out so the dagger board can be changed, the chocking of the foils (skates) looked at and the new mast be checked over before setting out no later than Thursday to deliver Gitana up to Cherbourg in the Channel (300 miles / 555 km north), for the start of the Challenge Mondial Assistance. All of the competitors have to have arrived in the marina by Friday 2nd May at 12h00 French time.

Lastly, a big debriefing after this first event is also scheduled for Monday morning to anticipate decisions which might need to be taken as to any improvements to be made to the boat and the way she is to be sailed.

Grand Prix de Lorient. Scoreboard :

1/ Groupama (Cammas) 20 pts, 2/ Géant (Desjoyeaux) 26 pts, 3/ Belgacom (Nélias)33 pts, 4/ Banque Populaire (Roucayrol) 36 pts, 5/ Sodébo (Coville) 41 pts, 6/ La Trinitaine (Guillemot) 42, 7/ Foncia (Gautier) 50 pts, 8/ Bayer Cropsciences (Maurel) 54 pts, 9/ Banque Covefi (Ravussin) 75 pts, 10/ Sopra Group (L Bourgnon) 77 pts, 11/ Gitana (Lemonchois) 79 pts.

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