Gitana 16, her name when launched, is an IMOCA 60 monohull sailing yacht, designed by VPLP and Guillaume Verdier and constructed by Multiplast in France. She was later known as Malizia II. The yacht's hull has a tumblehome shape and is equipped with foils, which were upgraded in 2016 and again in 2020. The boat was commissioned for the Gitana Sailing Team founded by French banker Benjamin de Rothschild. Her first skipper was Sébastien Josse who was later replaced by Boris Herrmann. The yacht does not use any fossil fuel for power. In 2019, solar panels with an output of 1.3 kW were installed, and power is also generated by two hydro-electric generators at the stern that can be raised and lowered as needed.
Ownership 2015–2017 - Gitana 16, FRA 16 The yacht was commissioned for the Gitana Sailing Team, founded by Benjamin de Rothschild. She competed in the 2016–2017 Vendée Globe with French Skipper Sébastien Josse but did not finish the race, due to a foil shaft problem.
2017–2021 - Malizia II, MON 10 In 2016, Pierre Casiraghi, vice-president of the Yacht Club de Monaco, worked with his friend Boris Herrmann of Germany and others to create Team Malizia. The yacht was renamed and competed for the team under the name Malizia II, with the sail number MON 10, flagged by Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco for the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe.
2021 to date: Fortinet-Best Western, FRA 10 In March 2020, Romain Attanasio of France bought the yacht, following a repair and refit, with the intention of competing in the 2024-2025 Vendée Globe.A34 Gitana 16, FRA 16, histoiredeshalfs.com, accessed 22 August 2022
Voyages Racing history PosYearRaceClassBoat nameSkipperNotesRefRound the world races 5/33 2020 2020–2021 Vendée Globe IMOCA 60 Seaexplorer YCM RET 2016 2016–2017 Vendée Globe IMOCA 60 Gitana 16 foil shaft issue Transatlantic Races 7 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Fortinet - Best Western 15 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Malizia II 4 2017 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Edmond de Rothschild RET 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Edmond de Rothschild RET 2016 The Transat IMOCA 60 10 2018 Route du Rhum IMOCA 60 2016 Transat Arctique New-York – Vendée IMOCA 60 Other Races 6 / 12 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 Fortinet - Best Western +Crew 8 / 20 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 +Crew 3 / 9 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 +Crew 2020 Le Défi Azimut race IMOCA 60 2020 Vendee Arctique race IMOCA 60 2019 Bermudes 1000 race IMOCA 60 2018 Monaco Globe Series Portimao to Bermudes IMOCA 60 2016 Défi Azimut
2020–2021 Vendée Globe With skipper Boris Herrmann the boat competed in the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe finishing 5th after having to reduce its speed close to Les Sables due to a collision with a fishing vessel which caused extensive damage to the starboard foil and side. Herrmann helped with the rescue of Kevin Escoffier after his boat sank.
Greta Thunberg Transatlantic Voyage In August 2019, the Malizia II took Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg across the North Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth to New York City without producing any carbon dioxide during the voyage; however, France 24 reported that several crew flew to New York to sail the yacht back to Europe. The trip was led by Boris Herrmann. Thunberg's crossing of the Atlantic started on 14 August 2019 and she arrived on 28 August.
See also 2019 UN Climate Action Summit Transatlantic Voyages of Greta Thunberg
References
External links Team Malizia II, official website Live-tracking During Greta Thunberg's crossing of the Atlantic, August 2019