Story and photos by Erik S Simonson

"In the world of sailing, the name Gitana is inseparable from the French-Swiss branch of the Rothschild family. It conjures up century-old images of a particular lifestyle where passion, team spirit and the quest for excellence come together.
As early as 1876, Baroness Adolphe de Rothschild became the fastest yachting lady on the planet aboard the first Gitana, a 25-metre steamboat, on Lake Leman. She repeated this feat in 1898 with Gitana II, reaching the hitherto unrivaled speed of 26.03 knots! The preface to the Gitana story was being written…" ~ Gitana Team Website ~

On February 28 the 110' Gitana 13 Sailed under the Golden Gate en-route to demolishing the previous Route de 'Le Or (NY to SF) by 14 days hours and 43 minutes, previously set by fellow countryman Yves Parlier aboard the 60 ' monohull Aquitaine Innovations in 1998. Gitana skipper Lionel Lemonchois is no stranger to The Gold race, having crewed on previous NY to SF races with Parlier in 1998 and with Isabelle Autissier in 1994. The last few weeks the big cat has been getting getting groomed at a local boat yard in preparation for yet another record attempt, SF to Yokohama Japan starting Saturday, weather permitting.

Gitana 13 is also no stranger to long distance racing, having been originally launched in 2000 under the name Innovation Explorer, finishing second to Grant Dalton's Club Med in the round the world event simply called "The Race" and later that same year claimed the Jules Verne Trophy sailing under the Orange Motif. In 2003, Ellen MacAurther sailed her under the Kingfisher 2 name in yet another Jules Verne attempt, but dismasted her in the Southern Ocean, where the she and crew were forced to abandon. In 2006 she was purchased by the Gitana Group and retrofitted in Vannes France before being relaunched this year with an ambitious record setting agenda.

I was fortunate enough to get the nod for a press ride this week, which had been postponed due to delivery issues of replacement cars for the mainsail track. A dozen or so other members of the press, VIP's and people who know people were invited along. Having shot her arrival from the water a few weeks earlier in light winds, and having a forecast for this day in only the 5-10 knot range I was expecting little more than a slow slog about the Bay and some time to practice my trampoline routine while not dropping expensive camera gear overboard.

After a very brief safety talk which was translated for us by our host "JY", we motored with the main up toward the Golden Gate at a gingerly 5 knots. By Yellow Bluff, the jib was drawn and the engine cut, we picked up another 4 or knots in the meager 10 to 12 knot breeze. As we approached the Gate, the 15 knots of wind translated quickly, matching hull speed, the giant drums starting to groan ever so slightly. After a couple quick tacks we found a freshening breeze in the shipping channel and the boat sprang to life. Doing 17 to 18 knots to weather in 8 foot seas is not something I, or most of the guests were used to. As the 1st hoots started to be sounded, the crew's knowing grins began to emerge.

Watching as the green Pacific rolled underneath the webbing, the weather hull struggling to stay in contact with the water, and miles and miles of open Pacific in front of us, I imagined momentarily what it would be like to do a crossing in this fashion, and what and addictive high it must be…The ride was smooth as silk with momentary spells of weightlessness, with out the jarring, crushing impacts one expects following those weightless moments… In minutes the big cat had reached Point Bonita and the helmsman called out for a tack and easing of the sails. (Well it was in French, so I think that's what he said) As we began to crack off things really began to speed up.. The runners now came into play, the crew bouncing across the tramp in an acrobatic ballet easing out the lines and pulling back others, More groaning from the drums and a few loud bangs and we were off… 20…23…25…27….30 knots just like that…

The ride back to the Bridge went quick, too quick, and as we passed by under the Gate, the sense that you get coasting to a stop after an e-tick ride at an amusement park began to set in…but instead of heading to the stable, Lionel and crew went into overdrive, gybing at potential targets like an outbound ship, then short gybing in front of Alcatraz and repeating the same for the crowds lining the decks at Pier 39, we then picked up an unofficial escort from the SFPD motor patrol boat, which strained to keep up with our now casual 24-25 knots. We approached the Bay Bridge and toward the tower, you know the one the Cosco Busan tried to get jiggy with??? Police escort is not far away and I'm thinking, I hope those guys in the blue uniforms know were good guys eh???

Another perfect gybe and were back reaching toward Alcatraz… The beam reach in the flat water is perfect…perfect for a little speed burning that is, and showing a little dagger board…Okay a LOT of dagger board…As we barreled along the City Front pontoon-a-flashing, I quickly reflected on days gone by, playing chicken with my buddy Bruce on his Hobie 16, intentionally tipping for the hell of it, then re-righting it and doing all over again. I think about that, then wonder what the tipping point is on this 22 ton beast… I think of photos I have seen of crew members clinging to inverted maxi multihulls…I think about how to best grab the tramp..I think about a lot of things including the large freighter now steaming towards us…. And then suddenly we are behind Alcatraz and just like that it's over…. The E-ticket portion of the ride that is, not the boat…we finish our ride back to the Corinthian all aglow…Everyone onboard knowing we just experienced some few have and wonder how well manage with our regular rides again when we come back to planet earth…

Gitana 13 takes her stab at the SF Yokohama record, having departed this past Saturday afternoon, then She's off to Beijing for the Olympics and then another record attempt at the TEA ROUTE record from Hong Kong to New York…stay tuned!!

03/31/08