Video: The incredible new Ultim Gitana 18 is launched at Lorient La Base

The 32-metre Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is launched © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

Gitana 18 is the trimaran which has been designed and built to take the great offshore records, including the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe, to another world.

The crowds were out in force on Saturday 14th February 2026 to catch a glimpse of this incredible machine as it was wheeled out of the yard and towards the awaiting crane to put her into the water. The innovations are massive on this yacht, and it has the potential to take the Ultim class to a whole new level of speed, so the anticipation of seeing the yacht sailing in the next few weeks, once they've added and tested the rest of the systems, is huge.

At 32 metres long and 23 metres wide, Ultim trimarans always look extraordinary, but there is something other-worldly about Gitana 18. The aerodynamics have been taken to the next level and the graphics, which will look even more striking with the rig, are fantastic.

The 38-metre-tall mast was then gently escorted along the dock and stepped in the yacht, marking a milestone in this three-year project. The main foils have to be fitted while the yacht is in the water and are just one of the processes that needs to be completed as she's carefully commissioned.

We then take a look at a fantastic animation which shows us how the yacht will work in its different modes, and hear from Charles Caudrelier, Skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild Gitana 18 Ultim.