Life Aboard Gitana 13 - Below Decks

YachtPals.com was honored to be invited aboard Gitana 13 to meet her skipper, and watch as the catamaran was rigged to break the world sailing record from San Francisco to Yokohama. Watching the crew ready this world record sailboat is a rather humbling experience. The size of the catamaran and her massive sails is far beyond what most of us are familiar with, and watching her rigged with ease is truly an amazing sight.

Although we were fortunate to have a Gitana 13 crew member act as interpreter during our meeting with the maxi-catamaran's skipper Lionel Lemonchois, it doesn't take one fluent in French to understand that this skipper and crew really know what they're doing. Referring to the boat and crew as a "well oiled machine" may be cliche, but there was no question in anyone's mind that this boat was ready to blast Geronimo's record to Yokohama.

Until now, we've had little information on how the crew live day-to-day on board this speed demon. YachtPals was allowed below decks to find out just what it's like, and we are excited to be able to share these exclusive photos with you, deep inside Gitana 13, now hours before they break another world record.

Thanks again Lionel and crew for your hospitality, and for this rare peek below decks. We look forward to reporting on Gitana 13 when you rack up your second world sailing record for 2008 in Japan. If all goes as we're projecting, possibly later today!!!

Keep up-to-date on Gitana 13 at the Gitana 13 fan page at YachtPals.com
Articles, photos, videos, blogs from the crew, and interactive Gitana 13 tracking map: yachtpals.com/gitana-13

Navigation station on Gitana 13

Understandably, the crew of Gitana 13 eats mostly one-pot meals while hurtling across oceans. The pantry is truly form following function - brilliant!

These spartan bunks on Gitana 13 must feel like heaven to exhausted crew.

Photos Gitana S.A./John Navas/YachtPals.com

Photo below: Personal gear on the Gitana 13, like the maxi-cat itself, is always ready to move.