Lorient, February 14, 2026. Even the wind and rain stopped to admire the last, 28th, hull in the Gitana team saga. After over two years of work, the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild was officially launched. A preview had been given last December 3rd when the new Ultim, the first of the second generation, left the CDK Technologies shipyard where, since January 2024, this maxi-tri, designed by the Verdier Gitana Team, had been conceived and built in utmost secrecy. This initial presentation and technical launch attracted countless enthusiasts along the route from the shipyard to Lorient and the team’s headquarters at Lorient La Base, in what was the super-battleship/base of German U-boats during the Second World War. Here, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild was prepared for the official launch, to which all enthusiasts had been invited since December. And indeed the weather also lived up to the expectations of many.
The Route du Rhum: The Goal
The challenge of the day was to enable the spectacular launch maneuver of a 32-meter-long, 23-meter-wide trimaran, and above all, to erect a mast over 38 meters tall. “Today the stars aligned and everything went perfectly!” confided Charles Caudrelier, skipper of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, who, along with the entire team, will be busy assembling the appendages over the next few days. In addition to the foils and rudder, the inverted T-shaped daggerboard, which has a 3-meter wingspan, is canting, like the canting keel, but is fixed in height. This innovative solution requires the daggerboard to be assembled with the boat in the water. Then it will be time for sea trials, with the aim of being ready for November 1st, the day of the departure from Saint-Malo of the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum. “We will have two or three weeks of static tests,” explained Caudrelier. “Then we’ll start sailing, but without the foils, which will arrive a little later. We’re talking about February 26th or 27th, which would be fine with me since the 26th is my birthday! In any case, if all goes well, I think we’ll be on the water by the beginning of March.”
An Ultim 100% Foiling
This is the goal of the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, which aims to move from “hybrid” sailing to fully foiling. To achieve this goal, new horizons were needed. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild’s appendages represent a true leap forward. The retractable, three-axis adjustable Y-foils (the arms are by Italian Eligio Re Fraschini) are inspired by the appendages of the AC75 America’s Cup. The rudders have a U-shaped geometry designed to resist cavitation. The central hull’s lifting keel and its large lifting surface represent a radical departure from anything previously designed for this type of vessel. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild’s rig also stands out for its adjustable spreaders, which allow the mast to be folded to adjust the mainsail’s power. Finally, the cockpit and deckhouse are structurally integrated into the central hull to ensure maximum rigidity. Based on thousands of simulator tests, the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is credited with a 10 to 15% increase in speed, which should take it well beyond 40 knots.
The numbers
The new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the result of extensive teamwork. Over 200 people were involved in the project of this 32-meter-long, 23-meter-wide Ultim, which displaces 19.5 tons. The hull-to-hull netting covers a surface area of 170 square meters. The cockpit maneuvering area is 9 square meters, while the cabin area is 4.8 square meters. There are six moveable appendages. The rudders are 4 meters high, the foil wingspan is 10.4 meters, and the foil bulb length is 2.4 meters. The mast is 38.4 meters, and the sail area upwind is 450 square meters and downwind is 630 square meters. A total of 500 control sensors are mounted on board, and the wiring required 8 km of cables. The total decorated surface area between hulls and sails is 2,000 square meters.
150 Years of Innovation
“With the launch of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild,” said Ariane de Rothschild, CEO of Edmond de Rothschild and owner of Gitana yachts, “a new chapter in the history of the Gitana family begins. For 150 years, my family has expressed its passion for the sea and sailing performance through these legendary vessels, cultivating innovation. The new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the expression of this vision.”
Emilio Martinelli
