Maxi Edmond de Rothschild: A new chapter of offshore flight
by Gitana Team 29 Oct 04:37 PDT
Gitana 18 in build © polaRYSE / GITANA SA
This December, the five-arrow fleet will welcome a new flagship: Gitana 18, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. Conceived from the outset to sustain flight, this next-generation trimaran is the result of more than two years of design, construction and creative collaboration.
At 32 metres long and 23 metres wide, she combines cutting-edge technology with a bold artistic identity, ushering in a new era for offshore racing — just as her predecessor, Gitana 17, did when the team pioneered the development of offshore flight.
A Boat Born to Fly Offshore
Gitana 18 is not an upgrade but a complete re-invention. Every element - from foils and appendages to structure and onboard systems - has been redesigned to deliver stability, reliability and endurance at high speeds. More than 50,000 hours of study and 200,000 hours of construction have been dedicated to creating a platform where, as Sébastien Sainson, Head of the Gitana Design Office explains: "The boat will fly 100% of the time — we didn't just adapt an existing concept; we reinvented it."
Building on this vision, Cyril Dardashti, Managing Director of the five-arrow team, highlights the scale of the challenge: "Thousands of hours of modelling and simulation pushed us to challenge every assumption. The result is a maxi-trimaran built from the keel up for sustained offshore foiling, with the potential to redefine ocean racing. Our team principal, Ariane de Rothschild, set us an ambitious goal and a clear roadmap when she decided to build a new boat. It's a formidable challenge, but one that inspires us at Gitana Team, where a culture of innovation and pushing limits defines the way we work."
Excellence Takes Time
Originally scheduled for launch earlier this year, the unveiling was deliberately postponed to ensure the boat met the team's exacting standards. For Gitana, time is an investment in performance.
Charles Caudrelier, skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, is clear on the value of patience: "To race around the world at 40 knots, you need complete trust in your machine. Taking the extra months to refine Gitana 18 is not a delay but a commitment. What we will reveal in December is not just a boat, but a finely tuned ecosystem designed for speed, resilience and victory."
Where Art Meets Ocean
Beyond performance, Gitana 18 is also a canvas for contemporary creation. In collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo, artists Florian and Michael Quistrebert have brought to life a bold artistic vision, presented on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild by Jean-Baptiste Epron. Across nearly 2,000m2 of hull and sailcloth, five faces emerge from the sea - a symbol of family, heritage and imagination woven into the fabric of this machine.
For Ariane de Rothschild, CEO Edmond de Rothschild Group and owner of Gitana: "For nearly 150 years, every boat in the Gitana saga has had her own unique story to tell. For a long time, I wanted to invite a contemporary artist to express themselves on one of our multihulls. My ambition went beyond the aesthetic gesture: I wanted to bring about a merging of worlds. When I decided to launch another large trimaran, Gitana 18, it was only natural to continue the collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo. For the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, they've created an expanding wave of faces. A wave which, like an intimate echo, reveals the features of my daughters. To whom I dedicate this new boat."
Expertise Without Borders
While the project is firmly rooted in Lorient, Brittany, it has drawn on a global network of specialists. From the vision of naval architect Guillaume Verdier to the skills of foil builders and composite experts across Europe, Gitana 18 reflects international excellence brought together under one roof. To share this process with the public, the team has produced the "G18 NDA" video series, offering rare behind-the-scenes access to the conception, construction and artistic identity of the new boat - a narrative that highlights both the global expertise involved and the collaborative spirit of the Gitana project.
A Living Saga
Gitana 18 arrives one year after Gitana 17's landmark solo victory in the Arkea Ultim Challenge, a defining achievement for offshore sailing. As Gitana 17 begins a new chapter with Team Actual, Gitana 18 takes her place as the 28th boat in the Rothschild lineage, extending a story that spans nearly 150 years — a legacy that will be celebrated in 2026 with the 150th anniversary of the very first Gitana.
The unveiling is planned for December 2025, when the trimaran will be presented to the public before embarking on a new sporting chapter, with major offshore races and record attempts ahead — including the next Route du Rhum, where the team will line up to defend its title.
The G18 "NDA" Video Series
To accompany the build of Gitana 18, the Gitana Team has launched an exclusive behind-the-scenes video series entitled "G18 NDA". The title reflects both the confidentiality surrounding the project and the team's commitment to offering rare glimpses into the design, construction and artistic process of the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild.
Each episode focuses on a different theme, with testimonies from designers, sailors, artists and craftsmen. The series is available on the Gitana Team's official YouTube channel and social media platforms, and serves as a narrative bridge between conception and launch.
Episode 1 - Conception
The series begins in the digital world, where Gitana 18, the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, was born. Designers and engineers explain how thousands of hours of simulations and modelling laid the foundations for a boat conceived to fly. The message is clear: this is not an incremental upgrade, but a clean-sheet re-invention.
Episode 2 - Construction
From drawings to carbon reality: this episode takes viewers inside the workshops where foils, beams and hull sections take shape. It highlights the precision, patience and craftsmanship required to turn virtual models into a 32-metre flying machine.
Episode 3 - Artistic Identity
A focus on the collaboration with artists Florian and Michael Quistrebert, in partnership with the Palais de Tokyo. The episode reveals the creation of the striking visual identity - five faces emerging from the sea - and how art and technology are interwoven on the hull and sails of the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild.
Episode 4 - From Virtual to Real
A bridge between theory and practice. This episode explores the transition from digital simulations and hydrodynamic testing to real-world construction and integration. It underlines the radical choices made to ensure Gitana 18 can sustain flight offshore.
Episode 5 - International Expertise
The final pre-launch episode pays tribute to the global network of specialists behind the project. From naval architects and foil manufacturers to composite experts across Europe, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is presented as the outcome of international excellence rooted in Lorient, Brittany.
Episode 6
To Air Soon On www.youtube.com/user/gitanateam