Offshore Foiling Revolution-Gitana

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by Doug Lord, Apr 16, 2015.

  1. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    These guys are going all out to convert their Mod 70 to full flying with the intent of doing the same to a larger tri. This is going to be a cool story as it progresses: http://www.gitana-team.com/en/event.news.aspx?eventid=95&newsid=1108

    See the video here: http://www.gitana-team.com/en/event.videos.aspx?eventid=95

    Whilst a number of their competitors will make their official return to the racetrack this Easter weekend during the traditional Spi Ouest France opener, the members of Gitana Team will have to wait a few more weeks before they can feel the adrenalin of competition coursing through their veins once more. Indeed their sailing season will kick off with the Tour de Belle-Ile on 9 May 2015. In the meantime, Sébastien Josse and his men certainly aren’t dawdling amidst a mixture of training sessions on the GC32 and the refit of the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild in Lorient. On the water and on land, there is a common goal: flight!

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    More than that though, the lessons learned over the 3,500 miles of the race across the Atlantic will soon be put into practice in the new work on Gitana XV and thus it will pass to the second stage of the initial project, that of turning the boat into the first offshore racing trimaran to fly. With around a fortnight until her relaunch, scheduled for mid-April, Pierre Tissier, Technical Director of the Gitana Team, lifted the veil on the broad outlines of the winter refit: “Before we got going, we carried out a thorough check of the wear and tear on the boat after a pretty packed sailing season in 2014, that notably included two transatlantics. The platform was thoroughly inspected and all the systems were stripped down. They are classic tests but important ones. However, the main modifications are those made to accommodate the new appendages. In her 2015 version, Gitana XV will be equipped with new foils and the entire lifting surface system on the float rudders has been reviewed. Everyone has put a lot of work into it, from the design office in relation with Guillaume Verdier, to the team in the workshop bringing the architects’ plans to life and setting up the systems. Naturally we’re itching to see the results on the water.”
    Since the last America’s Cup, flying boats have been very much in their prime in the multiple inshore races with a number of craft now available to race (GC32, Flying Phantom…). Offshore though, flying is still somewhat of a pipe dream. With the work carried out over the past winter on the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild, the Gitana Team has every intention of being part of the revolution that is about to hit offshore racing.
     
  2. Corley
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  3. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Gitana

    Interesting Corley-thanks. Appears identical to the Exocet 19 renders....
     
  4. Corley
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  5. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Gitana

    Thanks, Corley. I didn't realize they were using a "C" foil in the stb ama-uptip only in the port ama-very interesting.
     
  6. Corley
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  7. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Thanks-fantastic GC32 footage!
     
  8. Corley
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  9. Corley
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    Corley epoxy coated

  10. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Thanks!
     
  11. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Team Gitana

    Great results for Team Gitana on the long course with the MOD 70 and with the GC32 on the short course.
    Haven't been able to figure out where the AC 45 came in. One rumor I read is that they were fastest on the short course but the result wasn't counted-anybody have more info?

    A bit on the Groupama AC 45: http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en/news/GSTnews/actu_equipe_523.jsp
     
  12. Marmoset
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    Marmoset Senior Member

    Looking through pictures I was surprised at the thickness of the bows l.e!


    Barry
     
  13. Corley
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  14. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Gitana Foiler

    Very interesting video showing both amas flying but the main hull seahugging.
    I think I saw on quick shot in another video of the main hull flying with the boat on port tack-which means the "C" foil ama was being used. So far haven't seen a video of the whole boat flying on stb tack using the UptiP foil on the port ama-maybe they needed more wind for that. Pretty damn fast anyway......
     

  15. Corley
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    Corley epoxy coated

    It was pretty fast but not absolutely convincing as Oman Sail was only about 1min 35sec behind Gitana XV. The second placed MOD70 was well inside the former record time as well. Maybe it needs higher wind strengths for their foiling solution to shine but I imagine there would be some seastate limitations that would come into play too. This is interesting development and I'm glad the team are having a go.
     
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