Gitana 11
Built in 2001 under the name of Belgacom, this 60 foot trimaran joined the Gitana stable in 2004, where she went on to become Gitana 11. She was successively helmed by Frédéric le Peutrec and Lionel Lemonchois and the multihulll won her greatest acclaim in November 2006 when her skipper sailed her to victory in the legendary Route du Rhum 2006.
After a two year transition and following the publication of the notice of race for the Route du Rhum 2010 – which is opening the event to G Class maxis – the decision was taken to modify Gitana 11 to remain competitive in relation to her more sizeable adversaries.
Thanks to Baron Benjamin de Rothschild’s continued enthusiastic support and passion for oceanic multihulls, studies were able to get underway and the new Gitana 11 took shape on paper… In December 2008, the practical work could begin and Gitana 11 joined the technical platform at St Philibert yard in Brittany.
Yann Guichard, the skipper designated to helm this new craft in the colours of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, explains the aim of this ambitious transformation work :
“The aim has been to make up our deficit in relation to the large oceanic trimarans in muscly conditions, whilst retaining the characteristics of our boat in light conditions thanks to its power/weight ratio. We’ve sought to make gains in versatility”.
To achieve such results, three structural operations were scheduled.
- Construction and alteration of existing floats : new floats were built in New Zealand prior to being shipped back to France. Longer but above all equipped with the latest generation shapes, the inverted bows of these floats were grafted onto the main structure over the course of the summer in the Gitana Team’s workshops.
- Extension of the central hull : the central hull was cut in front of the forward beam so as to accommodate a new 7 metre section.
- • Development of the deck layout and optimisation of the platform with a view to sailing single-handed :the helming stations were re-centred in the cockpit and protected by some brand new pods.
After a studious winter and ten months being refitted, the members of Gitana Team have succeeded in the initial stage of the new work. With a gain of 17 feet (over 5 metres), we will witness the “birth” of a new totally reworked maxi-trimaran for solo sailing.
On 7th September 2009: Launch of Gitana 11, the second by that name !
Gitana 11 prize list.
-
2007
- 2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 (Le Havre – Salvador de Bahia)
- 2nd in the Grand Prix du Port de Fécamp
- 3rd in the AS League Challenge
- 3rd in the Grand Prix de Lorient
- Record SNSM (Retirement)
- Speed run record holder in the Défi Petit Navire
-
2006
- 1st in the Route du Rhum 2006 (St Malo – Pointe à Pitre) in 7 days 17 hours 19 minutes 6 seconds
- 4th in the London - Alpes Maritimes
- 3rd in the Trophée des Alpes Maritimes
- 3rd in the Trapani Grand Prix
- 3rd in the Grand Prix de Marseille
- 3rd in the Grand Prix du Portugal - Portimao
-
2005
- 2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2005 (Le Havre – Salvador de Bahia)
- 2nd in the Grand Prix de Corse (Corsica)
- 2nd in the Grand Prix de Marseille Métropole
- 3rd in the IB Group Challenge 2005
- 3rd in the Grand Prix de Cap l'Orient
- 4th in the Grand Prix de Vigo
- 4th in the Grand Prix du Port de Fécamp
-
2004
- 1st in the Grand Prix de Corse (Corsica)
- 3rd in the Grand Prix du Port de Fécamp
- 3rd in the Grand Prix de Marseille Métropole
- 5th in the Grand Prix de la Trinité-sur-Mer
- 9th in The Transat 2004 (Plymouth-Boston)
- Québec - Saint Malo 2004 (Retirement)
Gitana 11 in figures
|
Version 2006 |
Version 2009 |
| LOA |
18,28 m (60’) |
23,51 (77’) |
| Beam |
18,10 m |
18,31 m |
| Air draft |
30,40 m |
30,43 m |
| Water draft |
5 m |
5 m |
| Weight |
6,1 tons |
7 tons |
| Mainsail |
190 m2 |
190 m2 |
| Solent |
120 m2 |
120 m2 |
| Gennaker |
260 m2 |
260 m2 |