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.

10.04.2007

Trade winds still unstable….

With the competitors in the BPE Trophy having been at sea for just over 16 days now, a difficult end of race has begun for Thierry Duprey du Vorsent. The Gitana Team skipper should pass the 1,000 miles to the finish mark in a few hours or so. Firmly lodged in the leading quartet of the year's first transatlantic race for the past ten days, Thierry…

par Gitana

With the competitors in the BPE Trophy having been at sea for just over 16 days now, a difficult end of race has begun for Thierry Duprey du Vorsent. The Gitana Team skipper should pass the 1,000 miles to the finish mark in a few hours or so. Firmly lodged in the leading quartet of the year’s first transatlantic race for the past ten days, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent has, for the last 48 hours or so, been experiencing what all sailors dread most… the crucial lack of wind.

Having extended their route considerably by choosing a more southerly trajectory, many of his rivals are now zipping along at between 8 and 11 knots towards Marie Galante, whereas the skipper of Domaine du Mont d’Arbois will only pick up the established trade winds tomorrow evening or early on Thursday morning. Currently, his speed is fluctuating between 4 and 6 knots.

In this morning’s radio chat, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent bemoaned this turn of events but remained highly lucid: “The briskness with which the trade winds have become established in the south, and at a good angle to boot, is a bit hard to take, as us ‘northerners’ just have to sit and watch. And to make matters worse, a huge windless zone is feared for the finish, preventing us in the northern part of the fleet from taking a more or less direct route. But I’m accepting my misfortune patiently while at the same time trying to gain a tenth of a knot wherever possible so I can join my comrades in the flow of the established trade winds”.

Over the days to come, if they are to figure in the top half of the ranking in the Antilles, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent and Domaine du Mont d’Arbois will have to fight tooth and nail to regain a maximum amount of the ground lost over the last 48 hours. The leaders are expected to reach Marie Galante on Sunday 15 April or thereabouts.

Ranking of the Trophée BPE, Tuesday 10 April, 15:00 :

Rank	Boat / Skipper	Latitude	Longitude	Speed	Cap	Dist. But	Dist. 1st
1	Défi Mousquetaires Thomas Rouxel	14 49.74′ N	45 55.02′ W	8.5	243	896.6	0.0
2	Bostik Charles Caudrelier	14 50.76′ N	45 52.98′ W	8.4	239	898.6	2.0
3	Sojasun Liz Wardley	15 36.50′ N	44 57.29′ W	8.8	240	950.5	53.9
4	Financo Nicolas Troussel	12 31.82′ N	45 18.83′ W	8.4	231	956.6	60.0
5	A.ST Groupe Marc Emig	21 12.18′ N	45 03.72′ W	9.3	238	981.2	84.6
6	Gedimat Armel Tripon	22 15.61′ N	45 21.78′ W	7.1	229	988.3	91.7
7	Theolia Robert Nagy	23 04.02′ N	45 31.86′ W	5.5	240	995.6	99.1
8	Banque Populaire Jeanne Grégoire	16 02.46′ N	44 03.84′ W	7.9	266	998.4	101.8
9	Luisina Eric Drouglazet	21 11.42′ N	44 29.34′ W	9.2	240	1012.6	116.0
10	Groupe Céléos Ronan Treussart	20 35.61′ N	44 18.10′ W	8.4	236	1015.0	118.4
11	Aquarelle.com Yannick Bestaven	18 37.80′ N	43 51.87′ W	9.3	234	1018.3	121.7
12	Les Mousquetaires Bertrand de Broc	20 25.55′ N	44 03.44′ W	8.2	235	1024.7	128.1
13	Cercle Vert Gildas Morvan	19 47.84′ N	43 42.90′ W	8.5	243	1036.5	139.9
14	Lenze Franck Le Gal	14 33.80′ N	43 20.80′ W	8.0	237	1047.4	150.9
15	Le Comptoir Immobilier Gildas Mahé	20 27.16′ N	42 50.61′ W	8.4	246	1091.3	194.7
16	Domaine du Mont d’Arbois Thierry Duprey du Vorsent	24 34.51′ N	44 21.29′ W	6.8	230	1093.1	196.5

Source www.tropheebpe.com

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