{"id":215,"date":"2025-07-29T14:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=215"},"modified":"2025-07-29T14:42:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:42:21","slug":"inside-a-foiling-giant-an-onboard-tour-of-ultime-banque-populaire-xi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=215","title":{"rendered":"Inside a Foiling Giant: An Onboard Tour of Ultime Banque Populaire XI"},"content":{"rendered":"

After completing the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, professional offshore sailor, Sam Goodchild, gave Yachting World an\u00a0exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Banque Populaire XI, the incredible 100-foot foiling trimaran<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Ultime fleet will make for a spectacular sight on the Cowes startline. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi\/Rolex
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Banque Populaire XI isn\u2019t just any boat; it\u2019s a floating testament to the bleeding edge of sailing technology, designed for record-breaking<\/a> speeds and gruelling ocean races. Sam Goodchild<\/a>, fresh from the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race<\/a> with the Banque Populaire team, offers a unique perspective on what it\u2019s truly like to sail one of these magnificent foiling multihulls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From the central cockpit, Goodchild highlights the surprising simplicity of the control station, dominated by handles that manage an extensive hydraulic system. Unlike traditional yachts and in keeping with the developments we\u2019te seeing in top level foilers like the Ultimes<\/a> there are remarkably few ropes here, as much of the power is routed through hydraulics.<\/p>\n

This setup allows for a highly efficient crew operation: one person at the helm, a pit manager overseeing the intricate hydraulic maneuvers, someone dedicated to navigation, and four crew members tirelessly working the handles. Goodchild explains the sheer physical effort involved, noting that a single tack\u2014which includes deploying and retracting foils and rudders\u2014can require 10 to 15 minutes of continuous handle winding, pushing vast amounts of hydraulic oil.<\/p>\n

We also get to see the fascinating details of the foiling system, including the crucial daggerboard flap control in the middle of the boat. This mechanism, akin to a traveller on a conventional yacht, allows the crew to precisely adjust the boat\u2019s heel and so righting moment, a critical factor when rocketing across the water at 40 knots.<\/p>\n

Article continues below\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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Rolex Fastnet Race: SVR-Lazartigue first to finish after 35-knot run home<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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The first boat to finish the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race is the Ultime\u00a0SVR-Lazartigue, which won multihull line honours this morning,\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n