The family's passion for water sports began with Baroness Adolphe de Rothschild in 1876 on the shores of Lake Geneva. Known as the “Gitane”, she became the fastest Yachting Lady in the world on board the first Gitana, a 24-metre long steam-driven schooner.
In the 1960s, Baron Edmond de Rothschild initiated the craze for sailing with a clear preference for monohulls. The adventure continued with Baron Benjamin this time on multihulls. He created the Gitana Team in 2000.
The team has an ultra-modern technical platform located close to La Trinité-sur-Mer. This led Gitana 11 – a 60-foot multihull – to victory in the 2006 Route du Rhum. The centre also designed the Gitana 13, a 33 metre maxi-catamaran designed for races against the clock and discovery voyages. In 2009 the launch of the second Gitana 11, which had been lengthened by 11 feet, was a headline event. Unique in France, the offshore racing team has seen constant development.
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Gitana 11, training for La route du Rhum 2006. Gitana 11, multicup 2006. Gitana 11, Grand prix de Fécamp. Winding the winch on Gitana 11. Gitana 13, maxi catamaran built for Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. Gitana eighty in preparations for the transat Jacques Vabre 2007. Gitana Team wearing the colours of the Rothschild family. |