Saturday 14th February 2026
After more than two years in build, the 32-metre Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has been launched, marking the culmination of an ambitious construction programme and the start of a new chapter for the Gitana Team.
In early December, Ariane de Rothschild unveiled the radical architectural concept of this pioneering flying Ultim trimaran in spectacular fashion. On Saturday 14 February, that vision became reality.
Sailing enthusiasts and offshore racing followers turned out in force at Lorient La Base to witness the arrival of the first yacht of the new generation of fully flying Ultim trimarans.
A public and emotional milestone
Back in December, Gitana 18 had been revealed in the presence of her owners, after 26 months of development conducted in near total confidentiality. The team deliberately chose to launch on a Saturday to permit as many supporters as possible to share the moment, requiring favourable weather conditions for the complex operations.
“Everything aligned today,” said skipper Charles Caudrelier. “The weather window was unexpected, which allowed us to launch the platform and step the mast straight afterwards. It all went perfectly!”
With Gitana 18 now moored at her home pontoon in Lorient, she will remain alongside for a few days before embarking on her first sea trials off the Breton coast. The central rudder, which is retractable, and the daggerboard will be fitted once the yacht is afloat.
Testing and commissioning
The innovative Y-shaped pendulum foils and the central daggerboard, marked as a surprise for launch day, will be integrated post-launch. The next phase involves undergoing standard static tests before progressing to the dynamic testing stages, allowing for fine-tuning and preparation ahead of the Route du Rhum.
Owner and team reactions
Ariane de Rothschild expressed her admiration for the craftsmanship behind the new yacht. “The new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the embodiment of that vision. It is bold in its architectural concept and in its artistic design,” she shared.
Cyril Dardashti, Managing Director, highlighted the effort the team has invested. “It is a significant day for all of us — a major milestone in the project.”
Charles Caudrelier added, “We are entering a new phase in the life of this yacht and will finally discover what it has in store for us on the water.”
Innovation and performance
The ambition of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is to transition from hybrid flight to fully foiling sailing. A new advantage stems from the Y-shaped foils designed to optimise flight across various sailing conditions. The revolutionary rudders’ U-shaped geometry aims to maximise stability at high speeds. The pivoting central daggerboard represents a significant innovation milestone for offshore performance.
From initial design to final launch, Gitana 18 embodies a synthesis of innovation and engineering excellence, with over 200 contributors and 200,000 hours of work.
Technical Specifications — Maxi Edmond de Rothschild
Length: 32 metres
Beam: 23 metres
Nets: 170 m²
Area of aerodynamic covers: 73 m²
Cockpit floor surface area for manouvering: 9 m²
Living area (floor surface area): 4.8 m²
Displacement: 19.5 tonnes
Number of appendages: 6
Height of float rudders: 4 metres
Foils span area: 10.4 metres
Foil bulb length: 2.4 metres
Sail area upwind: 450 m²
Sail area downwind: 630 m²
Aerial draft: 38.4 m
Electrical cables: 8 km
Number of sensors: 500
Total decorated surface (hulls and sails): 2,000 m²
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