Review of the genesis of the most recent Gitana
Launched on 7 August 2015, the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild will take the start of her first race in ten days’ time: the famous Transat Jacques Vabre between Le Havre and Itajai in Brazil. We take the opportunity to look back at the genesis of the second IMOCA in the Gitana saga, a latest generation Verdier creation designed for the next Vendée Globe.
Boasting a planing hull beneath the waterline equipped with a ver high volume bow to enhance the boat's speed performance, a so-called tumblehome hull shape (meaning that the beam at the sheer is less than the maximum beam of the hull) to limit the beam of the deck and thus make her lightweight, reduction of the freeboard, which further accentuates the sense of the boat's beaminess, a flat deck and wide open, lowered cockpit, not to mention the foils... The Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild has no storage of assets in her favour.
Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild 3D Overall Presentation
This monohull was created and built for the Vendée Globe because even though we’re competing in the races that make up the Imoca race schedule in 2015 and 2016, the round the world race is our primary objective. The entire philosophy of the project is based on this premise. A lightweight boat is an obsession for all offshore racing teams as it is synonymous with efficiency and hence performance. However, from the outset of this project and given the nature of the major race we’re targeting, reliability has been our priority and formed the opening gambit in our specifications. My last experience in the Vendée Globe (his 2nd participation) resulted in a retirement following technical damage, so I know full well that in order to win a race, first you have to finish it! Added to that, the Multi70 experience has been very useful as it has enabled us to ‘shake up’ a few prejudices. Even if on paper a slightly more solid and hence slightly heavier boat should be slower, in reality the trust we have in such a boat enables us to push her hard with complete confidence.
Sébastien Josse
Skipper
Eleven month's construction
+100 people involved in the project
10,000 hours of studies (naval architects & Gitana's design office)
150 plans exchanged
30,00 hours of construction
The Vendée Globe starts today,” said Sébastien Josse. “This event is something we prepare for over the long term and right now, with the launch of the boat, it will be on our minds on a daily basis. I say we because its teamwork that brings together a trio of elements: the team, the boat and the skipper… The guys have worked superbly well to enable us to have a machine such as this and now it’s down to me to fulfil my part of the bargain. The work goes on because there’s still a long way to go to optimise her and fine-tune her. It’s going to be full-on until the start of the Vendée on 6 November 2016 but we’re privileged to be here!” the skipper assures us.
Sébastien Josse
Skipper