Even the Breton rain let up a little for a few hours, the wind blew more gently and then the carefully planned launch of the new Ultim trimaran "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" ("Gitana 18") could be carried out in Lorient and celebrated in front of hundreds of fans and onlookers. The radical ocean-going foiler, which was unveiled at the beginning of December, represents the exciting first design of a new generation of full-flying Ultim trimarans.
Launch of the Ultim giant "Gitana 18": "Everything was just right today"
Many sailing fans were present in France's sailing cradle Lorient this weekend when Ariane de Rothschild, Skipper Charles Caudrelier and Team Gitana showed their new Ultim pride and joy in its element for the first time on the afternoon of 14 February. The date was chosen deliberately: The team wanted the operation to take place on a Saturday so that as many fans as possible could witness the moment.
Good weather was not only desirable, but necessary, because the launching of a 32 by 23 metre Ultim platform - followed by the erection of a mast over 36 metres high - leaves little room for error. Team Gitana was lucky with the weather. "Everything was perfect today," said skipper Charles Caudrelier at the end of the operation. "The weather window was almost unexpected, but it allowed us to lower the platform into the water and put the mast in immediately afterwards. Everything went perfectly!"
The team benefited from moderate to light winds during the launch of the Ultim-Riesin - a rarity in recent weeks, when several Atlantic lows have swept across Brittany in succession. "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" will remain in the water for the next few days.
Many components for the Ultim-Tri are still to come
Many components are only now gradually being fitted and installed. The retractable centre rudder and the daggerboard will be added soon. The pivoting Y-shaped foils, each with a wingspan of more than five metres, will be installed later, as soon as the first test phase has been completed. From the third week of February, the boat will undergo the usual static tests that are carried out on all new builds when they leave a shipyard.
The story of this Ultim prototype is only just beginning. In the coming months, Charles Caudrelier and the Gitana team will be fine-tuning a sophisticated and highly complex design. The team has until 1 November - eight months - to prepare for the first major regatta and defend the Ultim title at the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe starting in Saint-Malo.
Ariane de Rothschild said: "The launch of 'Gitana 18' marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Gitana range. For 150 years, my family has been expressing its passion for the sea and sailing with these legendary yachts, always in the name of innovation. The new 'Maxi Edmond de Rothschild' is the embodiment of this vision."
Ariane de Rothschild thanks her team
What does Ariane de Rothschild think of the future Ultim record hunter? "It impresses with its architectural concept and artistic design, which was created by Florian and Michaël Quistrebert. I would like to thank the team for the remarkable work they have done over more than three years."
I am very much looking forward to seeing this new giant set sail." Ariane de Rothschild
In an interview on the day of the launch, Charles Caudrelier also said that his team naturally had its sights set on the record for the fastest lap around the world. To break the Jules Verne recordwhich Thomas Coville and his crew have just pushed to 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds on "Sodebo Ultim 3", "everything is turning," says Caudrelier.
"The right weather window and avoiding breakage will also play a role," said the former Ocean Race winner. He continued: "It was a great success for Thomas Coville's team and showed their great performance. They have managed to beat a record that has stood for a long time."
Birthday present for Caudrelier: the first test drive
Caudrelier and his team want to try and break this fascinating record. "That's what the boat is built for," says the skipper, "but it can't be done straight away. It takes two to three years to make a boat like this reliable. The big challenge in breaking this record is to make the boat more reliable."
When will Team Gitana be taking its first test drive with the new model? Charles Caudrelier smiled mischievously at this question and said: "Probably on my birthday." The Frenchman will be 52 years old on 26 February 2026. Who gets a present like that? In his wildest dreams, Caudrelier said, he could never have imagined "that I would one day be flying a plane like this". Now that moment is very close.
The team's first notable regatta target is the aforementioned Route du Rhum, which starts on 1 November. "It's an ambitious goal, almost unrealistic, to take part in a regatta with a boat like this eight months after the launch. But we will try to do it," said Charles Caudrelier this weekend at the Ultim launch in Lorient.
