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.

07.12.2023

The Henri Kummerman Award presented to Ariane de Rothschild.

The Henri Kummerman Award, presented to Ariane de Rothschild this Thursday by the Académie de Marine, rewards a personality or a team whose work or successes stand out in the field of improvements to construction methods or commercial shipping operations of all kinds.

par Gitana

The Henri Kummerman Award, recognition of an excellent lineage that goes above and beyond

This prize, one year on from Charles Caudrelier’s dazzling victory in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe and Gitana Team’s double victory in the legendary single-handed transatlantic race, comes in recognition of the pioneering and innovative spirit which has guided the Gitana saga since its creation nearly 150 years ago.

Launched in 1876 through steam boats on the waters of Lake Geneva by Julie de Rothschild, the Gitana lineage got its first taste of salt water back in the 1960s with Baron Edmond de Rothschild, a passionate defender of monohulls and the yachting way of life. In 2000, his son, Benjamin de Rothschild made the switch to the world of multihulls, boats whose technological aspects and performance fascinated him and whose future he was very quick to drive.

The Gitana saga is intrinsically linked to the history of Ariane de Rothschild’s family and the values she champions. Over the decades, each generation has brought into play its own high standards, its own style and its own innovative approach to the various Gitanas in order to perpetuate the family’s quite unique maritime tradition, whilst also reinventing it. However, these generations have shared a common goal: to test the limits of the age in order to be the best, because every Gitana generation must completely embody the values of progress, excellence and setting new targets.

Finally, this award pays tribute to the boldness and vision demonstrated by Ariane de Rothschild and the teams within Gitana in the construction and fine-tuning of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the first oceanic maxi-trimaran designed to fly which, since her launch in 2017, has paved the way forward for a new era of offshore racing.