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Gitana 18: Flying Yacht Redefines Offshore Sailing
16 Feb
Summary
- A new 105-foot foiling yacht designed to literally fly across the ocean.
- The yacht represents a shift from racing to extensive research and development.
- Gitana 18 features Y-shaped foils with wings over 16 feet wide for maximum lift.
The Rothschild family's storied yachting legacy continues with the Gitana 18, a cutting-edge 105-foot foiling trimaran designed to achieve unprecedented speeds.
This new vessel marks a significant shift for the Gitana Team, moving beyond pure racing to extensive research and development. The project involved 200 individuals and thousands of hours to construct the yacht, which features radical Y-shaped foils with wings over 16 feet wide. These foils are engineered to generate maximum lift while minimizing drag.
Skipper Charles Caudrelier suggests these systems could allow Gitana 18 to hover above waves, achieving sustained average speeds of 40 knots. The yacht is set to make its racing debut in April in a Mediterranean event, serving as a proof of concept for its advanced technology. Its striking livery was designed by artists Florian and Michaël Quistrebert.
The Gitana 18 aims to redefine offshore sailing capabilities and push the sport's technological limits. The Baroness emphasizes that honoring the team's legacy involves disrupting current technology and exploring new possibilities.
