Season 26
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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

    Gitana · Heritage1876 — 2026

    Gitana, 150years. Dare the open sea.

    A free spirit. An adventure forever reinvented.

    Watch the film150 years of passion
    Step into the story

    A legacy of adventure

    The sea
    as our horizon.
    Since 1876.

    When the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild sets sail, it does more than open a new chapter; it carries forward a 150-year adventure born of a free spirit: daring the open sea.

    Gitana is more than a maritime saga: it is a way of seeing the world, shaped by high standards, courage and imagination.

    A passion takes shape.

    150 years of adventure
    An illustrated panorama of Gitana boats: sailing yachts, steamers, multihulls and blue-and-gold emblems brought together in a single drawing. Explore the illustration
    Boats and generations, united by one passion.Gitana 150th anniversary illustration

    From yesterday to tomorrow

    A pioneering
    spirit.

    A course set by daring.

    Across generations, one belief has taken hold: victory is never an exact science, but a quest in which daring, innovation and skill make the difference.

    In 2026, celebrating 150 years of Gitana means honouring the pioneering spirit that has inspired our yachts and our approach to enterprise for a century and a half.

    Gitana · 150 years of passion