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.

03.12.2016

Short-lived calm spell.

par Gitana

The Indian is roaring in the wake of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. A tropical low, rolling in from Madagascar, is bearing its teeth. In addition, it’s set to join forces with the energy of another system, this one of Argentinean descent, currently sweeping up the fleet from West to East. Over the past 24 hours, Sébastien Josse has continued to reduce his deficit in relation to the top duo. At 14:00 GMT this Saturday, the skipper in third place in the Vendée Globe 2016-2017 was making headway 547 miles shy of the Le Cléac’h-Thomson pairing. However, his average speed has dropped in the last few hours. Indeed, the skipper from Nice is making the most of a spell of calm to ready himself for a gale, the first of the race, whose initial smoke signals it may well be possible to detect by the early hours of tomorrow.

In the immediate future, the skipper of Gitana Team has less to worry about than the solo sailors who are making headway a few hundred miles astern of him. Indeed, for some of them, it’s not a good idea to remain on the same track as this low pressure system, as is the case for Yann Eliès (Queguiner Leucémie Espoir), who’s made the decision to ease off the pace so as to let the worst of the storm go by him.

Calm before the storm

Aboard the latest Gitana, the generous conditions for slipping along at speed, filmed yesterday, Friday, by the cameraman aboard the French Navy helicopter, this morning gave way to moderate conditions with an average speed that has dipped below 10 knots in the past four hours. This short-lived calm spell, skirting a zone of high pressure that will quickly make good its escape eastwards, is enabling the skipper of the five-arrow stable to give the boat a thorough check and make sure everything is ready to go once the Indian explodes with anger. Already, the Meilhat-Beyou duo that is sailing over 650 miles astern of Gitana 16, are set for a few painful hours later today and into tonight. After that point, it’ll be Sébastien’s turn to brace himself for a sharp acceleration under the influence of these winds blowing in from the Tropics. Inevitably, conditions will then worsen still further on Sunday through into Monday.

First gale

Looking at the weather charts further down the track, the sailors are watching the eye of a massive low pressure system – a second such phenomenon – which is rolling across the South Atlantic and into the Indian Ocean. When this system encounters the front that has dropped down from the North, a virulent low pressure system will form and then head towards Cape Leeuwin (SW tip of the Australian continent). This clash of phenomena will give rise to the most powerful gale the Vendée Globe competitors have had to negotiate since setting sail on 6 November. After a month at sea, during which time the boats have been powered along at high speed and the sailors have naturally been put to the test physically, the start of this coming week will require the utmost caution. On the programme, the grib files are announcing winds of around 35-40 knots, gusting higher, as well as 5 to 6-metre waves.

Ranking on 3 December at 14:00 GMT

1. Armel Le Cleac’h (Banque Populaire VIII) 14,139.5 miles from the finish
2. Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) 9.4 miles behind the leader 
3. Sébastien Josse (Edmond de Rothschild) 547.5 miles behind the leader
4. Paul Meilhat (SMA) 1,216.2 miles behind the leader
5. Jérémie Beyou (Maître CoQ) 1,247.1 miles behind the leader  
6. Yann Eliès (Queguiner Leucémie Espoir) 1,726.3 miles behind the leader
7. Jean-Pierre Dick (St Michel – Virbac) 2,044.0 miles behind the leader

**If you haven’t yet seen them, here are the images from the French Navy and Nefertiti Prod, who flew over the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild some 160 miles offshore of the Kerguelen Islands.**

Watch the video

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