For her sea trials, the Gitana Team were able to benefit from all types of weather conditions to get the measure of this latest craft fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. They enjoyed calm spells, medium winds and more boisterous air flows of around 25 knots. The variety of conditions means that the team have really been able to get a feel for her: “It was a quick commissioning period. The boat is accessible as she’s simple to use and enables you to sail confidently. The MOD has been predominantly designed to compete in offshore races and the sea trials on her over recent weeks prove that she really fulfils her original brief. She doesn’t have too much sail area and provides you with a sense of safety, even in windy conditions. MOD still has a few details to sort out on our boat, but this will be complete during this short winter refit”, assured Sébastien Josse.

Over the course of a month, the 70-foot one-design in the colours of Edmond de Rothschild Group will undergo an ‘aesthetic’ refit. Indeed, on 25 October 2011, she was a plain, white boat void of any decoration when she was launched. From next week, Hubert Corfmat will begin his expert work according to plans drawn up by Jean-Baptiste Epron. The various members of the shore crew will make the most of the opportunity to give the interior fit-out a bit more attention too. The MOD Edmond de Rothschild Group will then return to the liquid element in early January as Sébastien Josse and his men have planned a thorough training programme during the first three months of 2012.