Nécessaire pour que les css soient prises en compte
Flash Player
Express SNSM Record for Gitana 11
21/06/2010 - 13:48 - The first maxi-multihull to take the start of the SNSM Record, Gitana 11 has set a reference time across the 360 mile course proposed for the 6th edition of what has become a seasonal classic. Yann Guichard and his six crew completed the two return legs between Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantic) and Sainte Marine (South Finistère) in a time of 19 hours 39 minutes and 58 seconds. A fantastic way for the 77 foot giant to celebrate her first official outing!

Gitana 13

Designed and built in Vannes in 2000 by the Gilles Ollier Design team, this 33 metre maxi-catamaran originally went by the name of Innovation Explorer. A year after her launch, she took part in The Race – a crewed round the world race reserved for G Class yachts – skippered by Loïck Peyron. The sailor from La Baule, on France’s Atlantic coast, and his eleven crew, took 2nd place in the event behind Club Med skippered by Grant Dalton.

Characteristics

  • LOA : 32.8m
  • Beam : 16.5m
  • Mast height : 41m
  • Weight : 22 tonnes
  • Strucutre : Carbon Nomex
  • Mainsail surface : 374m²
  • Solent surface : 177m²
  • Staysail surface : 104m²
  • Gennaker surface : 550m²
  • Conception / Construction : Multiplast
  • First launch : 2000 under the name of Innovation Explorer, prior to being purchased and rechristened Gitana 13 in 2006.
  • Sail number : 13

Next it was the turn of the English sailor, Ellen MacArthur, to purchase her in 2003 in a bid to do battle with a round the world record time set by Orange. However, the boat suffered a dismasting in the Indian Ocean, which put an end to this attempt.

Three years later, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild acquired the boat, keen to return her to her former glory, and so Gitana 13 saw the light of day.

Taking up with the speed records which formed the start of the Rothschild family’s maritime ties, the Gitana Team committed itself to a campaign of races against the clock in 2008. However, it was around the globe and not Lake Geneva that Lionel Lemonchois and his men began to shatter the record times. After a nine month tour and no less than 40,000 miles across the water, Gitana 13 made it back to Europe with seven new records to her credit.

Gitana 13’s records

  • Route de l'Or (New York – San Francisco, via le Cap Horn) : in 43 days 3 minutes 18 seconds (February 2008)
  • North Pacific Crossing (San Francisco – Yokohama) : in 11 days 12 minutes 55 seconds (April 2008)
  • Tea Route (Hong-Kong – Londres) : 41 days 21 hours 26 minutes 34 seconds (September 2008)
  • Asian Tour :
    • Yokohama – Dalian : 3 days 20 hours 19 minutes and 11 seconds
    • Dalian – Qingdao : 23 days 50 minutes and 20 seconds
    • Qingdao – Taiwan : 3 days 52 minutes and 15 seconds
    • Taipei – Hong-Kong : 1 day 58 minutes 27 seconds