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.

28.11.2019

Negotiation of the doldrums, take two.

par Gitana

Last night, shortly after 02:00 UTC, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crossed the equator and in doing so made her return to the northern hemisphere after more than seventeen days spent navigating the southern latitudes. A few hours later, Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier began their passage through the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone that is always dreaded. Reading the few lines sent by Yann Riou and observing the speeds posted by Gitana 17 in the past few hours, for now their passage appears to going smoothly. However, the men on Gitana Team are all too aware of the fickleness of this zone to draw any hasty conclusions. They should be definitively clear of the area over the course of tonight. At the 15:00 UTC position report, the Caudrelier / Cammas duo had snatched back a few more miles in relation to the 2nd boat, Actual Leader, positioned 492.5 miles astern, whilst Macif had made up some ground thanks to its W’ly option but still lamented a deficit of 801.6 miles in relation to the leaders.

Message from on-board by Yann Riou

I’m making the most of a little shady corner to write a few words. We entered the doldrums this morning. There are no storms or violent squalls for now, but there’s a wind which is easing as it gradually heads together with a stifling heat. The upshot of this is that the living space has been deserted by its tenants, who are regularly in search of a little shady corner or a dose of apparent wind to freshen up. Franck and Charles have just finished the most physical manœuvre on the boat: the headsail change that involves the so-called J0 and J1. 45 minutes of exertion in the sunshine. We’ve covered a little less than the theoretical distance within the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone. We’re hoping to escape its clutches tonight or tomorrow morning. The sun is beginning to dip and there are an increasing number of shaded spots on the boat. We’ll finally be able to breathe.
Have a good evening

=> TODAY’S VIDEO

The art of showering at high speed

The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild may well measure 32 metres in length and 23 metres wide, but she only features the most basic comforts making one of most classic rituals on land become a real headache on board. Washing, and more accurately showering, is one such tricky area; particularly when you’re constantly surrounded by water. Aboard Gitana 17, the two sailors have very different techniques! Though Franck Cammas favours an economic method in the shelter of the cockpit, Charles Caudrelier prefers the shock of the sea spray assisted by the water’s contact with one of the giant’s foils.

Watch the video

He explains to us the complexities of a shower aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild and presents us with his method: “There’s no water aboard! The only water we have is the stuff we make in a way, as it’s sea water that we make drinkable by using the desalinator. As such, it’s for drinking and we can’t make too much because it would consume too much energy. For showers, because this boat flies and is already high above the water (plus the 2-metre freeboard) we cannot apply the usual methods, which involve getting a bucket of water, pouring it over your head and rinsing yourself off a bit with freshwater. So we have to use the fast-boat method… you position yourself on the trampoline where there’s the most spray and you wash yourself!”

Ranking on 28 November 2019 at 15:00 UTC

1. MAXI EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD (Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier / Yann Riou) – distance to the goal: 2,795.0 miles – average speed over the past 30 mins: 20.4 knots

2. ACTUAL LEADER (Yves Le Blevec / Alex Pella / Ronan Gladu) – 492.5 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 21.8 knots

3. MACIF (François Gabart / Gwenolé Gahinet / Jérémie Eloy) – 801.6 miles behind the leader – average speed over the past 30 mins: 30.6 knots

RETIREMENT – SODEBO ULTIM 3 (Thomas Coville / Jean-Luc Nelias / Martin Keruzoré)

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