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.

07.05.2006

The eve of battle.

par Gitana

There are only hours to go before the start of the London-Alpes Maritimes race, the opening event of the Cafe Ambassador Multi Cup. And as Sylvain Mondon from Météo France explains below, the weather conditions look set to be very variable on the first part of the route. But this doesn’t worry the crews of Gitana 11 and Gitana 12 or their respective skippers Frédéric Le Peutrec and Thierry Duprey du Vorsent. As they fine-tune their preparations, Gitana Team general manager Loïck Peyron takes advantage of the moment to define the team’s strategy.

Loïck Peyron on…

• The race

“The advantage of starting off with an ocean race is that this type of event is a great leveller in terms of the differences in potential you tend to get in these Grand Prix races. But already, the Gitana Team’s strategy is clear: we need to reach Gibraltar in good nick. Whether first or last, it doesn’t really matter as long as the gaps are no more than twenty miles, because in the Mediterranean, it’s not always a good thing to be out in front… Sometimes, it’s better to hold back and wait for the right moment to attack, so as to avoid hitting a windless patch and then having to watch your rivals sail round it! In most races, of course, it’s better to be in front as that puts you in a position of strength, but in the Mediterranean, the principles are not the same…”

• The team

“The technical team has worked really hard and they’ve continued to do so here in London during the build-up to the start. I’ve even had to order the Gitana 12 crew to get some rest and leave the deck so that they’re not all washed up before the starting shot is even fired: they’ve been putting a great deal of effort in and that’s fantastic to see, but it’s vital not to forget about the race itself…”

• His role in the Gitana Team

“In the month I’ve been with the Gitana Team, I’ve been able to observe what a close-knit, enthusiastic and complementary unit it is. Due to my training and my own professional experience, I’m interested in everything, from the boat’s construction to the crew, or from the choice of sails to the analysis of the weather. The Gitana Team is highly structured in terms of organisation, with everyone having their area of specialisation and the two skippers cementing it all together: they are the ‘generalists’, surrounded by the ‘specialists’. My role is to be a sort of ‘super-generalist’, to take an interest in and have an opinion on everything, and even sometimes suggest an alternative to the choices made. In any case, I am delighted to be part of the Gitana Team, which should be in its element on this first event between London and Les Alpes Maritimes.”
The weather, from Sylvain Mondon –Météo France
“For the start, we’re expecting a 10-15-knot westerly wind on the Thames, freshening 20 knots around the mouth of the river. In the late afternoon, there should be a significant drop, combined with a switching of the breeze to a southerly direction. There will then be a period of transition which is likely to hit the fleet fairly suddenly after the Thames, with light winds passing the Pas de Calais and, above all, breezes that are highly variable direction-wise.

In the Channel, the weather conditions are going to remain uncertain. They will depend on the position of a depression which is currently forming this Sunday morning and which will be completely formed by midday.

The chronology of events up until Gibraltar, i.e. from Tuesday onwards, after exiting the Channel, suggest that the trimarans are going to have to cross a new transition zone generated by a ridge of high pressure between the Gulf of Gascony and Iceland. The winds will still be there, light and highly variable. And on the other side of this ridge, there will be a new disturbed system which has already been in place for several days around the Azores and is slowly moving towards Europe. So the race promises to be slower than last season overall. The first days at sea will be marked by a string of transitions, so there’ll be variable breezes and a succession of headwinds. Consequently, the field will be very open as the key phases will keep coming thick and fast: a lot of decisions will need to be taken very rapidly. As a result, the strategists will have particular responsibility on their shoulders and there are sure to be plenty of twists and turns!”

Gitana 11 Crew

Frédéric Le Peutrec (skipper-helmsman), Baron Benjamin de Rothschild (trimmer), Frédéric Guilmin (navigator), Daniel Souben (helmsman-trimmer), Ronan Le Goff (bowman), Antoine Mermod (pitman-trimmer)

Gitana 12 Crew

Thierry Duprey du Vorsent (skipper-helmsman), Erwan Le Roux (helmsman-trimmer), Mayeul Riffet (navigator), Alexandre Marmorat (trimmer), Nicolas Raynaud (trimmer), Léopold Lucet (bowman)

Retourner aux articles

Heritage