Revolutionary Trimaran Will Foil Solo At 50 Knots

This Radical New 100Ft Trimaran Is Designed To Do 50 Knots Across The Open Ocean. Elaine Bunting Talked To Her Designer.

- Elaine Bunting

A revolutionary 100ft fully foiling ocean-going trimaran capable of covering more than 900miles in a day and sailing at speeds of 50 knots was launched in July. Designed by Guillaume Verdier, the foil genius behind the America’s Cup winning Emirates Team New Zealand, Gitana 17 is designed to be sailed solo and to beat the round the world record.

Gitana 17 is the latest of the race boats backed by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild.The 100ft ‘Ultime’ trimaran is the culmination of three years of work by the team and brings together developments from areas as diverse as the IMOCA 60s,the America’s Cup and MOD70 trimarans.

This is a beast of a boat and significantly different from others in the growing ‘Ultime’ class such as François-Gabart’s MACIF and Thomas Coville’a Sodebo Ultim. For the first time, this is a boat designed around foil performance.

High average speeds