Yann Guichard and Gitana part company

Baron Benjamin de Rothschild's team looking for two new skippers

Following the Route du Rhum, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild's Gitana team will not be continuing their contract with skipper Yann Guichard.

For the 2011 season, Gitana will entrust the helm of its boats to two separate skippers: one regatta helm to steer the Extreme 40 Edmond de Rothschild Group in the Extreme Sailing Series and another to skipper Gitana's new Multi One Design 70 footer.

This strategic development is based around the Extreme Sailing Series programme, which will see some new top level competitors doing battle in the 2011 season, during which the event is set to expand even further internationally. At the same time, the launch of the Multi One Design will require considerable investment both in sporting and technical terms.

The Gitana Team and Yann Guichard weren’t able to come to agreement as regards the new organisation for this proposed new sports programme.