Gitana X
The fruit of close collaboration between 4 internationally renowned firms of architects, this highly innovative 18.28-m-long multihull is incontestably the most original ORMA multihull in design terms, mainly on accounts of the X-shape formed by its cross beams.
Team, collaboration and skills were to be the key words of the Gitana X project. From the conviction and willpower of Benjamin de Rothschild the Gitana Team was born in 2000.
Olivier Besse, a former associate and fierce racer with a number of Swiss championship titles to his credit, as well as being a crew member on Gitana IX, was the right man to organise the Gitana Team.
Initially, he looked for designers, architects and engineers to create a racing multihull worthy of the line of Gitana boats. The Gitana Design Team was created. The design of Gitana X was the fruit of close collaboration between four architectural firms of international renown.
After the numerous studies, the option was taken to construct a trimaran and a suitable yard was chosen: Multiplast at Vannes (France). It was necessary to find the right balance between a pure high performance racing boat and an offshore ocean racer. The new Gitana was born through some difficult compromises. The sum of the skills of the Gitana Design Team resulted in a very aesthetic multihull: the beams between the central hull and the floats forming an X-shape. What could be more normal for this Gitana, the tenth of that title? Besides an excellent centring of weight and increased stiffness of the platform, this shape enabled a very large cockpit to be organised aft, which is ideal for manoeuvres.
Some very advanced studies have been carried out on it and only the best techniques and materials used, with a total of over 200 plans and 30,000 working hours being consecrated to the creation of Gitana X.
However, designing is one thing, creating is another, and following through with such projects is a real challenge. For Olivier Besse, who was in charge of the case, and on the impulse of Baron Benjamin de Rothschild's complete trust, it was his duty to organise an ultra-efficient team to monitor the build. Gitana Team was formed and over the course of a few weeks it was enriched by human and professional skills. The first decision to be taken was the choice of skipper. Lionel Lemonchois, a respected sailor in the world of ocean racing, was entrusted with the helm of Gitana X, which was still under construction at the time.
A compléter par Tiphaine