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  • Gitana 18
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    • 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.

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    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.

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    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.

    Gitana 18’s daggerboard

    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.

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    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.

    Gitana 18’s coachroof

    01.11.2017

    Transat Jacques Vabre, a North-South course bound for Brazil.

    From Le Havre to Salvador de Bahia, the 4,350 miles will lead the Transat Jacques Vabre fleet from the Alabaster Coast to Brazilian waters. This long diagonal route from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere is a sprint across the Atlantic with an estimated race time of 8 to 10 days for the Ultimes. Offering a route that is as rich as…

    par Gitana

    From Le Havre to Salvador de Bahia, the 4,350 miles will lead the Transat Jacques Vabre fleet from the Alabaster Coast to Brazilian waters. This long diagonal route from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere is a sprint across the Atlantic with an estimated race time of 8 to 10 days for the Ultimes. Offering a route that is as rich as it is demanding, as much meteorologically as strategically, the Route du Café is the longest of the transatlantic races!
    Weather, three 72hr stages

    With some 4 days until the start, Sébastien Josse, skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, gives us his analysis of the weather for the race; a course which he is dividing up into three ‘stages’, each of which he reckons today will take 72 hours. Naturally these figures remain theoretical and, as always, they will depend on the weather conditions encountered by the sailors along the way.

    1 – From the start to the Canaries

    “This first third of the course equates to around 1,400 miles and is the most intense and most strategic section of the race due to a combination of several factors. Already, there’s the stress of the start, where in a matter of minutes you have to switch to being at sea and lose the reflexes of a landlubber so as to find your sea-legs and get into the game as quickly as possible. The exit from the English Channel is a funnel with no way out, packed with shipping. Keeping watch is crucial and depending on the wind direction (if the start coincides with the arrival of a string of Atlantic lows for example), a high number of manœuvres may be required to power out to the north-west tip of Brittany. From here, the position of the Azores High will determine our trajectory towards the trade winds. The advantage with multihulls, and our big boats all the more, is that the speeds achievable enable us to outrun the weather systems rather than having to endure them, which is often the case for the other classes.” 

    2 – In the northerly trade winds

    “This second section of the race spans 1,650 miles and the focus is more on piloting and managing your trajectory in the trade winds; a trajectory which you have to keep an eye on so as to line oneself up and find the best point of entry for the Doldrums. The trade winds of the northern hemisphere can blow up to between 15 and 25 knots and may be accompanied by seas that aren’t all that pleasant to sail in and, though not generally heavy, can be rather messy. According to the trade wind sector, we may be on a reach, in E’ly winds, or on a broad reach in NE’ly winds. However things play out, this will be a quick phase and after three days of racing in our wake, with the fatigue setting in, these miles require a fair bit of concentration.”

    3 – Change of hemisphere and home straight

    “The Doldrums is behind us and we’re preparing to make the switch into the southern hemisphere; there are still 1,300 miles to go! Our angle of approach will have been anticipated in order to choose our exit point. This little game is all about compromise. Broadly speaking, the more headway you make to the east of the Doldrums, the better your angle will be to exit this zone, but it’s also to the east where the ITCZ is widest and generally proves to be the most complicated to negotiate. As such, it’s all about striking a balance! On exiting this area, a few hours of upwind conditions (between 12 and 18hrs) usually await us, but very quickly the wind lifts enabling us to lengthen our stride and rack up the miles on a reach (wind on the beam). In all likelihood, this section of the race will see us record our highest speeds. Finally, as we approach the Brazilian coast things may get a little spicier as the weather is often unsettled and stormy.”

     

    The final destinations for the Transat Jacques Vabre from the start through to 2017

    Since the creation of the Transat Jacques Vabre, in 1993, the start venue has remained unchanged. Indeed, Le Havre has hosted thirteen editions of the race and the locals are particularly fond of the event and its history. This year, the town is commemorating its 500th birthday; an anniversary date which has been celebrated in style by a programme of entertainment and spectacles called “Un été au Havre” (A summer in Le Havre). The TJV rounds off the celebrations.

    Classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO thanks to its historic centre, Pelourinho, Salvador de Bahia is a city located in the north-east of the country. It is Brazil’s largest historic capital. Salvador has already made its mark on the race as the finish was played out here from 2001 to 2007. As such the Transat Jacques Vabre fleet is going back to its beginnings some ten years on since it last hosted the race finish.

    The start venue for the Transat Jacques Vabre since the event began, Le Havre is also championing its 500 years of history this year. The locals have really been celebrating this anniversary in style through a programme of entertainment and spectacles called “Un été au Havre” (A summer in Le Havre). The TJV rounds off the celebrations.

    Classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO thanks to its historic centre, Pelourinho, Salvador de Bahia is a multifaceted city. Located to the north-east of the country in the state of Bahia, it is Brazil’s largest historic capital. With this 13th edition, the Transat Jacques Vabre fleet is making its return to All Saints’ Bay some ten years on since it last hosted the race finish.

    Cartagena, Colombia / 4 editions (1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999)

    Salvador de Bahia, Brazil / 5 editions (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2017)

    Puerto Limon, Costa Rica / 2 editions (2009 and 2011)

    Itajaí, Brazil / 2 editions (2013 and 2015)

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