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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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A passion passed down through people and boats: meet those who brought the Gitana saga to life.
1876
The origins of Gitana
Julie de Rothschild sails La Gitana on Lake Geneva on 21 September 1876. This steamer marks the beginning of the family line.
Speed is her passion: 20.5 knots for La Gitana, then an average of 26.34 knots for La Gitana II in 1898.
Also a photographer, she sets up a studio in her Paris home. Her photographs, signed JR, bear witness to the period.
1960
A taste for racing
In 1960, Edmond de Rothschild resumes the maritime adventure with Gitana III. He chooses sailing and monohulls.
Designers and shipyards help him create boats for both racing and cruising.
For more than thirty years, his crews compete in regattas in the English Channel, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
2000
The birth of Gitana Team
Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild establish Gitana Team in 2000. The family tradition becomes a professional offshore racing team.
Multihulls now take centre stage. Sailors, designers, engineers and technicians work together to improve their performance.
Composites, hydraulics, computing and ropework all contribute to this new chapter in the saga.
2017
Taking flight offshore
In 2017, the launch of Gitana 17, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, brings to life the offshore foiling project that Ariane de Rothschild has supported since 2015.
She commits Gitana Team to designing large multihulls capable of sustained flight on the open sea. Research, testing and development become essential to this new generation of boats.
Following in Julie de Rothschild’s footsteps, she continues the family adventure by making innovation a driving force in offshore racing.
