The 32-metre Maxi Edmond de Rothschild offshore racing trimaran Gitana 18 has completed her first sail following her launch last month, marking a major milestone in the next phase of her development. The trimaran was first unveiled in early December 2025 at the team’s shed in Lorient, Brittany, before hitting the water for the first time on 14 February 2026.
Since then, the technical team has been working intensively to complete final adjustments to the mechanical systems and finish the onboard hydraulics and electronics following standard static tests. Gitana 18 finally set out for her first sea trials on 10 March, sailing in light airs between the islands of Groix and Belle-Île-en-Mer. The outing was designed as a technical test rather than a speed trial, allowing the team to familiarise themselves with the yacht’s highly innovative systems.
“Our first impressions are very good,” said Caudrelier. “It’s a real pleasure for all the team to head out to sea after the many hours spent in the office and the shipyard. "Everything’s different so it’s a whole new learning experience, which is another exciting aspect of this phase we're beginning. We need to pace ourselves in a controlled manner as we get her up to speed, and our technical schedule has been devised with this in mind.”
Unlike her predecessor, Gitana 18 is capable of switching from hybrid mode to 100 per cent flight, a development said to be at the forefront of a new generation of large, high-performance oceanic trimarans.
Described by the team as a “polymorphic creature”, she can adjust, deploy and retract a wide range of elements to optimise performance. Her beam measures 23 metres, with a cockpit floor of 9 square metres, a living area of 4.8 square metres, nets covering 170 square metres and an aerodynamic surface of 73 square metres.
A notable feature is her retractable Y-shaped foils, inspired by the flying monohulls of the America’s Cup, which are designed to provide multiple trimming options to optimise flight on every point of sail. Other additions include revolutionary rudders, a redesigned central daggerboard on the central hull, and a reimagined rig with adjustable spreaders, allowing the 38-metre mast to bend and modify mainsail power — a world first at this scale. Simulator tests suggest the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild could deliver a 10 to 15 per cent increase in speed compared to her predecessor, Gitana 17.
“This first sail was momentous for the whole team and rewards a long collective effort,” said Caudrelier. “Naturally there is a great deal of expectation surrounding this new boat and we are eager to see her flying and fulfilling her true potential. But this new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is so innovative that it is vital we don’t rush things."
He continued: "We need to complete all test phases in order, and this first outing allows us to get our bearings and a first feel for the boat. Having a few hours on the water has been very positive – we managed to hoist the sails, test the major new features on the mast and spreaders, and also the entire steering system, including the rudders, which are attracting a lot of attention. The work ahead promises to be both demanding and exciting.”
The trimaran was designed by the Gitana design office and Team Verdier, while Florian and Michaël Quistrebert, in collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo, were responsible for her striking “monumental” livery. CDK Technologies built the platform in close cooperation with suppliers including C3 Technologies (rudders), Re Fraschini (foils), Southern Spars (mast and boom) and North Sails. More than 200 people were involved in the design and construction of this latest build.
The vision for Gitana 18 followed nearly 200,000 nautical miles sailed aboard Gitana 17, with successes on the racing circuit including the Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum and the Arkéa Ultim Challenge, alongside the history of the Gitanas and the philosophy of her owners, today Ariane de Rothschild and her daughters.
As with her predecessor, Gitana 18 also serves as a floating artwork: French artists Florian and Michaël Quistrebert, assisted by graphic designer Jean-Baptiste Epron, created a composition imagined as a female epic, combining art and technology. The first sail offered the team a chance to experience the full visual impact of this new graphic signature offshore.
Ariane de Rothschild, CEO of Edmond de Rothschild and owner of the Gitana fleet, commented at the yacht's launch in February: "For 150 years, my family has expressed its passion for the sea and sailing performance through these legendary yachts, always with a spirit of innovation. The new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the embodiment of that vision. It is bold in its architectural concept and in its artistic design, created by Florian and Michaël Quistrebert."
Gitana 18 succeeds a long line of high-performance racing trimarans, with nearly 200,000 nautical miles sailed aboard Gitana 17, including victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum and the Arkéa Ultim Challenge. She is the 28th boat in Gitana’s maritime saga, which is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Following the completion of sea trials and further system testing, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is expected to make her racing debut at the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe on 1 November 2026.