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.

11.11.2005

Through the Canary Islands.

After the serious damage sustained by three of the fleet's trimarans (Brossard, Sodebo, Orange Project) and the capsize of Foncia, Groupama-2 turned turtle on Thursday evening. Both Francks, (Cammas et Proffit) were airlifted off and taken to La Palma (Canaries). Meawhile, back on the race track, Banque Populaire is holding onto the lead, whilst Gi…

par Gitana

After the serious damage sustained by three of the fleet’s trimarans (Brossard, Sodebo, Orange Project) and the capsize of Foncia, Groupama-2 turned turtle on Thursday evening. Both Francks, (Cammas et Proffit) were airlifted off and taken to La Palma (Canaries). Meawhile, back on the race track, Banque Populaire is holding onto the lead, whilst Gitana 11 tries to pull off a tactical move along the coast of Africa. Gitana X is making a pitstop at Lanzarote (Canaries).

Frédéric Le Peutrec and Yann Guichard have sailed a nice track so far. Aiming for the Canary Islands and passing between Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, Gitana 11 has come back to within 87 miles of the leader. After having overtaken the Italian trimaran TIM-Progetto Italia in the morning, Gitana 11 is currently 3rd in the overall rankings 10 miles behind Géant, who is currently lying second … In continuing to plunge down towards Africa, the blue trimaran has been able to use a more powerful flow of air than what is available out to sea. The long slide down towards the Cape Verde islands may well enable the crew of the « Eleven » to come back into the match before the Doldrums. On board Gitana X, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent and Erwan Le Roux are running into one technical hitch after another. The full width of their main sail has torn beneath the second reef. The crew is planning to stop over at Lanzarote (Canaries) probably in the marina of Puerto Calero.

Yesterday evening, upon learning that Groupama 2 had capsized, the Gitana Team had mobilised Olivier Wroczynski and Jean-Yves Le Govic to back up the shore crew in rescuing the green trimaran off the coast of La Palma (Canaries).The Gitana Team had also sent out Richard Loncle, Laurent Bourgues and Léopold Lucet with Gitana X’s spare mainsail. The whole team was able to make use of the assistance plane chartered by Groupama which was operational early in the afternoon today.

Frédéric Le Peutrec (Gitana 11) at 5h00 Friday :

« Conditions are still rough out here, even if there are no more squalls now. We’ve still got more than a 20 knot NE blow. We had a flatter sea as we sailed through the archipelago and boat speed of between 25 and 30 knots with the mainsail and gennaker up. Sea temperature is much warmer and we’ve been able to organise a more coherent watch schedule for the past day or two. We have caught up on lost sleep and can push the boat harder again. We had not intended to head east but we had to gybe off the coast of Portugal and once that was done, we had no choice but to stick to that course. As it turned out, it was a good option as we’ve got good wind and will be able to sail down. We’ll have to wait and see if we need to gybe again to free ourselves from the coastline or if we can make it down the African coast in one long tack. It’ll all depend on the wind‘s rotation and strength. If it veers east, which is what the forecast indicates, that’ll play into our hands. If the wind drops or remains stable and NE, we’ll have to head further out to the open sea and will loose ground. The Cape Verde Islands are 650 off yet. »

Thierry Duprey du Vorsent (Gitana X) at 9h00 on Friday :

« We’ve been really unlucky ! When we gybed on Thursday evening, the mainsail tiore completely just under the second reef although the manœuvre had gone perfectly well. I don’t understand it. ! We have to call into Lanzarote to pick up the 2002 mainsail which the Gitana Team shore crew has brought down by plane. We’re currently sailing with two reefs in the main and so we’re not very fast. We should be arriving in Puerto Calero around 20h00 on Friday and the stopover should not last for more than three hours, just the time it takes us to put the battens into the new sail. As Lanzarote is on our way, we should not lose more than 60 miles. It doesn’t do morale much good but we’re still on form. There are still 3 500 miles to go to Bahia. »

Rankings at 11h44 :

1 Banque Populaire
2 Géant
3 Gitana 11
4 TIM Progetto Italia
5 Gitana X

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