Gitana 18, a Racing Trimaran Sailboat Featuring Future Fibres’ Latest Rigging
•February 20, 2026
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Why It Matters
Its breakthrough foiling and lightweight rigging set new performance benchmarks for offshore racing, pressuring competitors to adopt similar high‑tech composites.
Key Takeaways
- •Gitana 18 unveiled, 104‑foot foiling trimaran
- •ECnine carbon rigging offers extreme stiffness, low weight
- •Southern Spars dynamic mast adjusts spreader sweep up to 35°
- •Target speed: 40 knots, flying in 3‑metre waves
- •Collaboration includes North Sails, Southern Spars, Future Fibres
Pulse Analysis
The Gitana 18 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild represents a quantum leap in offshore multihull design. At 104 feet, the trimaran combines a sleek carbon‑fibre hull with retractable Y‑foils and U‑shaped rudders that keep all three hulls aloft across a wide range of wind angles. By maintaining continuous flight even in three‑metre seas, the vessel promises average speeds approaching 40 knots, a target that pushes the limits of current sailing physics. The collaboration between the Gitana Team and naval architect Guillaume Verdier has refined foil geometry and structural stiffness to deliver unprecedented stability at extreme velocities.
Equally groundbreaking is the rigging package supplied by Future Fibres, North Sails and Southern Spars. Future Fibres’ ECnine is an ultra‑high‑modulus carbon‑fibre multi‑strand rig that delivers maximum stiffness with minimal mass, while integrated Synapse fibre‑optic load cells provide real‑time tension data. Southern Spars contributes a dynamically adjustable mast rake and spreaders that can sweep up to 35 degrees, allowing the mainsail to be flattened or deepened on the fly. This combination of lightweight strength and active control reduces vibration, fatigue and maintenance, translating into faster, more reliable performance during grueling offshore campaigns.
The introduction of Gitana 18 signals a shift in the competitive landscape of grand‑prix and super‑yacht racing. Teams that adopt similar carbon‑fibre rigging and foiling technologies will likely narrow the performance gap, accelerating an industry‑wide race toward lighter, smarter composites. Moreover, the boat’s ability to stay airborne reduces hull‑water interaction, potentially lowering drag‑related fuel consumption for hybrid propulsion concepts. As the ECnine system heads to JEC World 2026, its visibility will drive broader adoption across high‑performance marine sectors, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in advanced composite sailing solutions.
Gitana 18, a racing trimaran sailboat featuring Future Fibres’ latest rigging
The 104-foot (32 metres) Gitana 18 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild was officially unveiled to the public on 14 February in Lorient, France. Designed for offshore racing, Gitana 18 aims to combine cutting-edge technology with artistic elegance.
Created by the Gitana Team and in collaboration with Guillaume Verdier and his team, this boat took two years to design — technically and creatively — and build. Every element of Gitana 17, from foils and appendages to structure and onboard systems, has been redesigned, having in mind the improvement of stability, reliability and endurance at high speeds. Preliminary workshops were held in the summer of 2024, featuring the specialist Design Services team from Gosport, UK.
Gitana Team selected North Sails, Southern Spars and Future Fibres to deliver an aero-optimised sail and rig package. Gitana 18 is also endowed with a large offshore multihull that would be capable of flying with all three hulls completely above the water all the time. What is more, the underwater appendages are equipped with huge retractable Y-foils designed to optimise flight on every point of sail in all conditions, thanks in particular to innovative U-shaped rudders.
G.Le Corre — polaRYSE / Gitana S.A.
“With this new boat, we hope to achieve as close to perfect flight as possible. Ideally, we’ll be able to fly very high without ever touching the waves. We hope to be able to fly in 3-metre waves and reach an average sailing speed bordering on 40 knots,” says Charles Caudrelier, Skipper Maxi Edmond de Rothschild.
Commenting on the launch of Gitana 18, North Technology Group CEO Sam Watson noted, “The relationship between North Sails, Southern Spars and Future Fibres, Gitana Team and Team Verdier already goes back decades. We not only share a passion for competition, performance and technological disruption, but a commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in our sport. This latest stunning trimaran marks a major leap forward and we are proud that there was only one organisation that could be trusted to bring Gitana 18 to life. We have worked behind the scenes for years on the rigging, sails and clothing requirements, and we can’t wait to see what this magnificent boat is capable of achieving.”
For the first time, Gitana 18, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild will feature technology from Southern Spars, a company designing and manufacturing carbon fibre spars, rigging and rig servicing. The company built a dynamic mast rake control aimed to increase drastically the ability to control the mainsail while sailing. The spreaders provide up to 35 degrees of sweep and can be dynamically adjusted, enabling the spar to bend to deepen or flatten the mainsail. The dynamic controlled spreaders allow adaptation to changing wind speed and load cases as the boat transitions between displacement sailing to full foiling. Southern Spars also developed a rotating single diamond mast, integrated with North 3Di and Future Fibres rigging, engineered for the extreme loads and speed of an Ultim trimaran but with low energy consumption.
G.Le Corre — polaRYSE / Gitana S.A.
ECnine, rigging seeking maximum stiffness, minimal weight and offshore durability
Future Fibres, a leading supplier of composite rigging to the race, cruise and superyacht markets, supplied the complete standing rigging and load sensing package. Gitana 18 integrates various technologies from Future Fibres but ECnine, Future Fibres’ latest product, which is an ultra-high modulus carbon fibre multi-strand rigging, makes its premiere within the Ultim fleet. ECnine has been designed for grand-prix and high-performance superyachts seeking maximum stiffness, minimal weight and proven offshore durability. It delivers superior performance to monolithic rigging. Its multi-strand construction enhances durability, safety, and vibration damping, reducing fatigue and maintenance. Adapted to grand-prix yachts and superyachts, it suits both inshore and offshore use with full compatibility across rigging interfaces. It is supported by integrated Synapse load cells and fibre‑optic monitoring for continuous load monitoring and performance analysis.
ECnine will be presented on the Innovation Planets on JEC World 2026.
Adrien Nivet — polaRYSE / Gitana S.A.
Cover photo: the Gitana 18 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (copyright: Adrien Nivet – polaRYSE / GITANA S.A.)
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