An experienced sailor at the helm of an experimental giant

The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe was on the programme for the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild before the first layers of carbon fibre had even been laid for its construction. Making it to the start of the most famous transatlantic race less than eight months after this highly innovative trimaran’s maiden sail was an achievement in itself. Yet at the helm of this extraordinary giant, defending champion Charles Caudrelier is preparing to take a leap into the unknown. 

"We've still been making some important decisions on certain aspects of the boat over the past few days," reveals David Boileau, boat captain for Gitana 18. "It's going to be intense right up to the last minute. But we’re not under undue pressure. We've completed this optimised first version of the boat so that Charles, who's really eager to get racing, can set off with confidence."

Getting to this point has required an enormous effort from every member of Gitana Team. "The amount of work we've put in over the past three months has been phenomenal," David continues.

And it is this collective effort that makes Cyril Dardashti, director of the five-arrow team, especially proud. "It has been a huge challenge for everyone. Nobody was counting the hours, working evenings and weekends to make sure we could train, sail and fine-tune this incredibly complex machine. We were all working towards the same goal, with a level of team spirit and unity that I've rarely experienced."

"We've overcome things that seemed insurmountable back in August," confirms Charles Caudrelier. "The team has done an incredible job. It gives you strength and makes you want to do justice to all the energy that's gone into getting us ready for Saint-Malo."

Significant progress in a short space of time

The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild's maiden sail on 10 March 2026 started a countdown of less than eight months to test, understand and fine-tune this bold new addition to the Gitana fleet.

"The boat is incredibly complex. We have really pushed the boundaries in every area and taken some significant risks. This has given us a great deal to work through," explains Cyril Dardashti.

One of those challenges concerned the foils. The team quickly realised that certain components needed replacing, a setback that disrupted the early stages of getting to know the boat and learning how to handle it.

Despite this, the progress made in such a short space of time has been considerable. A period of around 20 days in the boatyard in mid-September, immediately after Charles Caudrelier's solo qualification, allowed the team to optimise the foils further, iron out some teething problems, replace rigging components, improve the trimaran’s aerodynamics with a new fairing beneath the boom, and refine its interior layout for the skipper's comfort, among other things.

A recent week of sailing and speed testing alongside Sodebo Ultim and Actual (formerly Gitana 17) also provided valuable insights into sail selection and fine-tuning the trimaran’s settings.

"Between the maiden sail and the most recent one, Charles Caudrelier has logged more than 40 days at sea, and in that time the boat's behaviour has changed completely," explains Erwan Israël, performance manager and weather router. "We've gained several knots of speed on certain points of sail."

Another vital component, the bespoke autopilot developed specifically for Gitana 18, is also performing to the team's satisfaction.

"Ultimately, we're heading into this Route du Rhum with a boat we can be proud of,” concludes Cyril Dardashti. 

"We have some weapons in our arsenal, but not all of them yet"

Closely involved in the boat's technical development, Charles Caudrelier quickly found his feet aboard Gitana 18. He knows, however, that his first race will also be an opportunity to continue getting to know it. "We're going to test its reliability, its appendages and how it handles when sailed solo," he explains. "I'll carry on getting to know it and improving it throughout the transatlantic race, and that's a really interesting challenge. I'm expecting it to be very physically demanding, though, particularly during manoeuvres, as I haven’t yet developed the instinctive reactions that come with knowing a boat inside out."

The trimaran’s full potential, along with any weaknesses, has yet to be discovered, as it prepares to face rivals who have continued to improve and sailing conditions it has never encountered before.

Charles Caudrelier can draw on his vast experience, his talent as a solo sailor, his tenacity and his competitive instinct. "We have some weapons in our arsenal for this race, but not all of them yet. That doesn't make us favourites, but it does make us outsiders with enormous potential."

The forecast for the opening part of the race, with downwind sailing as far as the Azores, should favour this first competitive test of the most complex and innovative multihull in the fleet, sailed single-handed.