Gitana 18 Ultim: ራዲካል Y‑ፎይልስ፣ ካንቲንግ ዊንግ ማስትን በግልባጭ A-ፍሬም ራደሮችን ይፋ አደረገ

At the Gitana team base in Lorient, France, a 30‑strong in‑house design and build crew presented the new Ultim known as ጊታና 18, a 100ft foiling trimaran intended to fly close to 100% of the time and to operate at sustained high speeds in offshore conditions.

ቁልፍ የቴክኒክ ባህሪያት በአጭሩ

The unveiling highlighted three major technical departures from previous Ultims: the replacement of conventional L‑shaped foils with giant Y‑foils, a sculpted central wing, and an unprecedented inverted A‑frame (U‑shape) rudder arrangement. All of these are designed to control load, reduce deformation and maintain efficiency at extreme speeds.

Foils and appendages

The new foiling concept replaces L‑shaped foils with 5m‑span Y‑foils mounted on large swinging arms. Each foil arm allows spanwise adjustment and independent trimming of trailing‑edge flaps, while the arms themselves can be raised or raked to modulate lift and reduce impact loads during take‑off and flight.

Rudder innovation

The rudders are built as a fixed twin‑chord inverted A‑frame with trailing‑edge flaps controlling yaw. This arrangement avoids the torsional bending that conventionally turning rudder stocks face at extreme loads, and the design team claim there is no net drag penalty for the added structure.

Rig and mast

The rig is a canting wing mast engineered to bend intentionally, giving the crew another axis of control over mainsail power between take‑off and stable flight. The mast for Gitana 18 is the first Ultim mast produced by ሳውዘርን ስፓርስ in New Zealand for the team.

Operational goals and race calendar

Gitana 18’s stated objective is to foil 100% of sailing time by lowering the wind threshold to initiate flight and by improving lift efficiency at higher speeds. That approach builds on data and sea miles accumulated by Gitana 17 (now Actual Ultim 4), the team’s previous optimised 100ft trimaran.

• First major race: 2026 Route du Rhum — a defence of skipper Charles Caudrelier’s title
• Longer‑term targets: solo around‑the‑world and crewed Jules Verne record attempts
• Development focus: take‑off/flight transition, squall handling, and control authority at 40+ knots

Design provenance and livery

Designed by Guillaume Verdier with the Gitana team, Gitana 18’s livery was created by Florian and Michaël Quistrebert in collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo. Owner አሪያን ደ ሮትስችልድ attended the launch with family; the boat is the 28th in the Rothschild/Gitana stable, which marks 150 years in the sport next year.

Implications for tourism and maritime spectatorship

The unveiling in Lorient signals new opportunities for maritime tourism: boat‑yard visits, museum tours with live guides, and coastal watching points for high‑speed testing days. Ports with advanced shipyards and spectator infrastructure stand to attract visitors keen to witness next‑generation naval architecture in action.

For travellers planning trips around maritime events, local operators may offer tailored packages including harbor tours, museum visits, and even exclusive yacht charters for events. These options make it easier to turn a technical reveal into a memorable travel experience.

Practical visitor tips

• Check local schedules for trials—high‑speed tests are the best time to view foiling in action.
• Book guided shore excursions or museum tours in advance to secure good vantage points.
• Consider weather and swell when planning coastal watching; safety and visibility vary.

Highlights: Gitana 18 introduces Y‑foils and an inverted A‑frame rudder to manage extreme loads and sustain flight, while a bendable canting wing mast offers fine power control in transition phases. Yet even the most detailed reviews can’t match seeing these systems at sea. On GetExperience, you book your experience from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments, and to choose tours or shore experiences that match your interests—Book now GetExperience.com

In summary, Gitana 18 represents a significant step in foiling Ultim design: giant Y‑foils, sculpted central wing, inverted A‑frame rudders, and a Southern Spars canting wing mast aim to raise average speeds and control in heavy seas. For travellers and maritime enthusiasts, Lorient’s unveiling offers a chance to combine museum tours with live testing days, exclusive yacht charters, and coastal sightseeing—turning technical innovation into compelling travel experiences. Whether you’re seeking adventure activities like adventure rafting trips for beginners or luxury adventure travel experiences, or interested in interactive online cultural workshops and museum tours with live guides, witnessing Gitana 18’s innovations ties into a broader spectrum of Travel experiences and cruise packages that enrich any itinerary.