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.

26.06.2007

The 2007 60-foot multihull season.

Since discovering them less than 10 years ago, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild has given the 60-foot multihulls unswerving support. And the ORMA (Ocean Racing Multihull Association) Championship programme for 2007 includes a wide range of race formats for these environmentally friendly Formula 1s of the sea.

par Gitana

The AS Lease Challenge, the start of which will take place at Lorient on 14 or 15 May 2007. This crewed race over a course of roughly 1,400 miles starts and finishes in Lorient, passing via markers to the northwest of Spain (La Coruna) and to the south of Ireland (Fastnet Rock).

The Multihull Trophy will get underway on 19 and 20 May at Lorient, consisting of 5 or 6 crewed races in the Grand Prix format designed to showcase the spectacle of these magnificent boats for the public.

The SNSM Trophy due to start on 24 June 2007 at Saint-Nazaire is a crewed race of around 284 miles between Saint Nazaire and Saint Malo, the proceeds of which go to the SNSM (Société Nautique des Sauveteurs en Mer). For the first time in its history, the race is part of the ORMA Championship.

The Douarnenez Challenge from 13 to 15 July off the westernmost tip of Brittany. The first holidaymakers of the summer will be able to admire a succession of 60-foot multihulls over a three-day period.

The Rolex Fastnet Race. This legendary event, particularly for the Gitana team which has held the record for the last nineteen years, covers a course between Cowes, Fastnet and Plymouth. This crewed race of approximately 608 miles gets underway at Cowes on 12 August 2007.

The season’s main event, the Transat Jacques Vabre starts in Le Havre on4 November 2007. For the eighth edition of this unmissable doublehanded transatlantic race over a course of about 4,500 miles between Le Havre and Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Lionel Lemonchois will be teaming up with Yann Guichard.

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