Inside a Foiling Giant: An Onboard Tour of Ultime Banque Populaire XI

Banque Populaire XI isn’t simply any boat; it’s a floating testomony to the bleeding fringe of crusing expertise, designed for record-breaking speeds and gruelling ocean races. Sam Goodchild, contemporary from the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race with the Banque Populaire staff, presents a singular perspective on what it’s actually prefer to sail one among these magnificent foiling multihulls.

From the central cockpit, Goodchild highlights the shocking simplicity of the management station, dominated by handles that handle an intensive hydraulic system. In contrast to conventional yachts and in step with the developments we’te seeing in prime stage foilers just like the Ultimes there are remarkably few ropes right here, as a lot of the ability is routed via hydraulics.

This setup permits for a extremely environment friendly crew operation: one particular person on the helm, a pit supervisor overseeing the intricate hydraulic maneuvers, somebody devoted to navigation, and 4 crew members tirelessly working the handles. Goodchild explains the sheer bodily effort concerned, noting {that a} single tack—which incorporates deploying and retracting foils and rudders—can require 10 to fifteen minutes of steady deal with winding, pushing huge quantities of hydraulic oil.

We additionally get to see the fascinating particulars of the foiling system, together with the essential daggerboard flap management in the midst of the boat. This mechanism, akin to a traveller on a standard yacht, permits the crew to exactly alter the boat’s heel and so righting second, a essential issue when rocketing throughout the water at 40 knots.

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Sailors on Banque Populaire XI typically steer to leeward, permitting them to immediately observe how the foils are performing and make instant changes. For single-handed or short-handed crusing, a classy autopilot is readily available.

There are foot releases for the mainsheet and controls for canting the rig (tilting the mast 6 levels to leeward earlier than a tack), emphasising how these improvements enable for speedier depowering and improve security. Regardless of their immense energy, these foiling machines sail remarkably flat, making capsizing much less seemingly.

A vital element of the Ultimes are the aerodynamics that dominate the boat’s design, from the cockpit’s fairings to the minimal on-deck exercise when the boat is flying at velocity. Goodchild showcases the difficult exit from beneath deck via slender aero fairings, highlighting the acute measures taken to cut back drag.

He additionally touches on the practicalities of sail modifications and normal checks that also require venturing onto the trampoline and foredeck.

Reflecting on their latest Rolex Fastnet Race, Goodchild notes that Banque Populaire XI achieved a mean velocity of round 35 knots on the return leg from the Fastnet Rock.

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