Gitana 18, a Racing Trimaran Sailboat Featuring Future Fibres’ Latest Rigging

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.