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.

17.05.2009

Victory for Gitana Extreme: Yann Guichard’s men pack a punch!.

Venice has smiled on the crew of Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group! After seventeen races, most of which were contested in a light breeze, Yann Guichard and his three crew – Pierre Pennec, Hervé Cunningham and Christophe Lassègue – have won the first event of the 2009 iShares Cup circuit in style. They stood out ahead of the crews of James Spit…

par Gitana

Right from the initial training races on Thursday, Yann Guichard’s men showed their rivals that they were a force to be reckoned with. During the three days of racing, contested just a stone’s throw from the famous “Piazza San Marco”, the crew of Gitana Extreme continued to race at the front of the fleet and this consistency today enabled them to take a deserved first place.

The first meeting, the first participation and the first victory: the equation may appear simple but the men aboard the one-design, equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, had to hunt down the first success amongst some high class competition. Indeed, this latest performance has seen them more than stand their ground in front of some well known and recognised helmsmen, including James Spithill, who is none other than the future helmsman from the US challenge for the America’s Cup, and Loïck Peyron. On his return to shore, the skipper of Gitana Extreme couldn’t conceal his satisfaction: “It’s great! We were keen to be in Venice and race so as we could find out what level we’re at. This initial victory is a real joy for the whole crew, as well as for the members of Gitana Team who have carefully prepared the boat since its arrival in La Trinité-sur-Mer at the start of March.” He also assessed his crew’s assets, which set them apart from their rivals on the Venetian race zone: “Our success has a lot to do with our very good starts. This initial ranking very often guides the next stage in the match and the crew showed total symbiosis during these phases. After that you know what they say: speed breeds intelligence and vice versa, and when you cross the line in the lead it’s always more comfortable!”

The youth of the crew and their recent association – they began sailing together less than three months ago – could have meant that a few races were set aside for observation but this didn’t prove necessary. In fact, in his statement, Yann Guichard wanted to salute the team work and the excellent atmosphere reigning aboard the Gitana Extreme: “I’ve talked about it a great deal over the past three days but the cohesion of the crew was essential in our victory. The pressure on me is huge as they are the kinds of races where there is permanent contact and it’s also highly physical for my three crew as the stream of manœuvres is incessant. I am very happy to be sailing with these three sailors”.

The next meet for the ten Extreme 40’s competing in the 2009 circuit will take place in the south of France. Hyères will play host to the second event of the season from 3rd to 5th July 2009. For this race, the crew of Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group will be considerably modified as Hervé Cunningham, registered to participate in another race, will be temporarily replaced. Questioned about this upcoming meet, Yann Guichard remained lucid: “We’re not starting from scratch as this victory has given us a lot of confidence, but Hyères will be another race, with another race zone where I think we’ll benefit from a steadier breeze.”

Crew of Gitana Extreme – LCF Rothschild Group
Yann Guichard (skipper-helmsman)
Pierre Pennec (mainsail traveller trimmer, tactics), Christophe Lassegue (headsail trimmer, control of manœuvres) and Hervé Cunningham (headsail trimmer, control of manœuvres)

Final ranking (after 17 races)
1/ Gitana Extreme- LCF Rothschild Group (Yann GUICHARD) – 140 points
2/ BMW Oracle Racing (James Spithill) – 120 points
3/ Oman Sail Renaissance (Loïck Peyron) – 113 points
4/ Oman Sail Masirah (Pete Cumming) – 111 points
5/ Groupama 40 (Gildas Philippe) – 102 points
6/ BT (Nick Moloney) – 97 points
7/ Luna (Erik Maris) – 88 points
8/ Holmatro (Carolijn Brouwer) – 84 points
9/ iShares – Shirley Robertson – 84 points
10/ Ecover – Mike Golding – 48 points

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