200,000 hours of construction, 50,000 hours of research and development, 80% of the boat built in an autoclave, three years from idea to launch, and more than 200 people involved in the project. These are the numbers behind the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the Gitana 18, which left the CDK Technologies warehouse, where it was built, on December 3rd to touch the water for the first time in the canal leading to Lorient La Base, Brittany. Measuring 32 meters in length with a 23-meter beam and a displacement of 19.5 tons, Gitana 18 is the latest boat built by the team led by Ariane de Rothschild, CEO of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, who inherited the legacy and dreams of her husband, Benjamin de Rothschild, founder of Gitana Team, who passed away suddenly on January 15, 2021.
The official presentation will be on February 14th in Lorient
Designed by Guillaume Verdier and Sébastien Sainson, along with the Gitana team, for skipper Charles Caudrelieri, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is an Ultim-class foiling trimaran with a 38.40-meter mast (one of its many new features is adjustable spreaders, which allow the mast to be flexed to manage the power of the mainsail underway). The sail plan is a generous 630 square meters and Gitana 18 has been a focus of interest from the start. So, to allow as many multihull enthusiasts as possible to witness the Gitana 18 pass through the yard at Lorient La Base, where the official presentation will take place, the event has been scheduled for Saturday, February 14th. And the public will certainly be there.
Gitana 18: A New Generation of Ocean Racing Trimarans
The new Gitana 18 is the result of extensive research that has engaged the designers in the creation of a truly multitasking maxi-tri, capable, through a series of adjustable elements, of adapting to different sailing modes and trims. This work focused particularly on the appendages, which alone mark a radical change. The over 5-meter-long Y-foils are adjustable on three axes and inspired by America’s Cup foiling monohulls. They are designed to offer maximum lift and, thanks to their wide range of adjustments, allow for optimized flight in all points of sail and in all wind and sea conditions. The U-shaped design of the 4-meter-long rudders, both on the central hull and those on the lateral hulls, is also revolutionary. These rudders were specifically developed to counter cavitation at high speeds. Finally, the 4.85-metre long central hull keel has 3-metre lifting platforms and represents an absolute novelty on an Ultim Class trimaran. The potential performance of Gitana 18, which aims to set a new Jules Verne record, has been analyzed through thousands of simulations. And the numbers suggest a projected speed increase of 10 to 15%, taking it well beyond the current 40 knots.
The first 150 years of the de Rothschild saga at sea
In short, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the 28th yacht in the de Rothschild saga at sea, continues the quest for innovation and boldness that has always been at the heart of Gitana’s history and the philosophy of its creators. A project now led by Ariane de Rothschild and her daughters, who are preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Five Arrows Team in 2026.
Emilio Martinelli
