A 32-meter trimaran, adorned with a living artwork by the Quistrebert brothers, sets sail for the Route du Rhum with Charles Caudrelier and Ariane de Rothschild's daughters as symbolic figures.
Departure of a racing yacht
On November 1, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild Gitana 18 will leave Saint-Malo for the Route du Rhum, a famous sailing race. Charles Caudrelier, the skipper, won this race in 2022 and will be at the helm again.Art on a racing yacht
The trimaran features an artwork commissioned from the Quistrebert brothers, transforming the boat into a contemporary piece of art. The artwork is described as a living painting that rises over 3.5 meters above the waves and can reach speeds exceeding 50 knots, or about 100 km/h.Design and construction of the vessel
The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild Gitana 18 is 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, with a 38-meter mast that adjusts the main sail as the boat accelerates. It took 50,000 hours of research and 200,000 hours of construction to build the vessel, which is described as a fifteen-ton monster.The skipper and his team
Charles Caudrelier, 52 years old, is the current titleholder of the Route du Rhum since 2022. He will be supported by five women, symbolized as white points on a black background, covering nearly 2,000 square meters from the hull to the sails.The artists behind the artwork
Florian and Michael Quistrebert, who have worked together since graduating from the Beaux-Arts of Nantes in 2007, created the artwork. They were nominated for the Marcel Duchamp Prize in 2014 and have exhibited at prestigious venues like the Centre Pompidou and the Grand Palais.Symbolism in the artwork
The Quistreberts created five profiles of Ariane de Rothschild and her four daughters, depicting them as goddesses of the sea, wind, and boat races. The artwork also reflects their earlier series of aerocubist portraits, using color gradients and geometric cutouts to blend figuration with abstract art.The design challenge
The challenge was to create a visible artwork on a racing yacht without adding weight. The artists used a pattern of white points on a black background, varying their size to create volume and light. This approach avoids the added weight that solid lines would introduce.Execution of the artwork
To ensure the artwork could withstand the boat's deformations and the curvature of the sails, the artists painted it point by point, like a tattoo. Decosail painted the hulls, and the Atelier sur Mer painted the sails, with the design supervised by Jean-Baptiste Epron.Recent sailing achievements
In early September, Charles Caudrelier completed 1,200 miles alone in 48 hours, north of Ireland. This demonstrates his skill and endurance as a navigator preparing for the upcoming race.Destination and timeline
On November 1, Caudrelier will set sail for the ACTe Memorial in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. The first competitors are expected to arrive around November 5, marking the start of the race's competitive phase.
