rapido 60 trimaran review

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RAPIDO 60: The fastest production multihull in the world?

Rapido N ° 2 (Romanza) in New Zealand in a breeze, under 1 reef/solent, the central hull releases a good part of its wetted surface!

The silhouette of this animal won’t leave you indifferent! The mast section, the sail plan and the decor of the hulls herald something colorful. Note the comfortable stepped hull that offers a generous interior

With this boat, the upwind angles can be very closed, and even in the breeze with the chop, the spray seldom reaches the cockpit

Rapido, the two-faceted multihull! It knows how to be clever, but no question of going unnoticed at anchor!

Dynamic dihedron in operation, the windward hull well clear of the water. Rapido is cutting its course at a brisk pace on a flat sea and a wind below 12 knots. The foredeck and the anchoring station are like those of a cruising multihull

From the helm station, access to the cockpit is direct and secure, the trampolines fixed on laminated battens (so without holes or screws) are at deck- level making moving around more comfortable. Even under reacher, the upwind performance remains amazin

Very innovative ergonomics! Raised helm station, 4-6 seat bench seats, folding tandem seat. Note the sail-handling console with the big electric Lewmar 60 winch placed on the bimini and the large boom wings. The cockpit bulkhead is in a raised position un

The saloon, the cockpit and the galley can merge into a beautiful semi-outdoor space perfectly protected from wind, spray and sun (note the side fairing that closes the area in for high speed). Here the connecting door is tilted and stored under the bimin

The saloon table is removable. Who could have imagined not so long ago such a galley aboard a performance trimaran?

The continuity of accessibility is one of the Rapido’s strong points: at the bottom of the cockpit, access to the aft cabin

The forecabin of this trimaran is spectacular; the blend of materials (here on Romanza), the design and the perfection of the composite left visible testify to a very sure taste and a demanding finish!

From the aft lodge (it has its own bathroom), the view of the wake is seductive

The multifunction locker accessible by a large watertight hatch from the cockpit; there are even bunks and an access panel. Really practical ... and the weight is centered!

Practical info

• Builder : RAPIDO TRIMARANS
• Technical specifications

• Finance your Rapido 60 Ocean Cruiser
• Articles about the Rapido 60 Ocean Cruiser
• Available in issue # 157

Boat Test price $5.00 Inc. tax

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American ports and marinas, like those in Western Europe are struggling to accommodate large catamarans. How will they react to an 18x12m trimaran platform?  The question may seem incidental, but still made me think!  But why start a review of a multihull as attractive as this one with an off-the-cuff comment?  Nobody said that the Rapido was reasonable!

Trimarans: easy victims for dock fees

A large part of the world's yachting fleet is grouped around an infinitesimally small percentage of the coast (and not always the most attractive bits!). There remains, however, a variety of smart solutions in wonderful and less crowded sailing areas (estuaries, lagoons, large lakes, interior gulfs, drying areas ...). Countless shoal-draft areas would also be able to accommodate this type of boat (the Rapido has an integral daggerboard),  which would help to avoid the sometimes grotesque regulations and outrageous charges for moorings. This bleak comment made, let's get to the main course: I invite you aboard one of the most exciting liveaboard multihulls ever produced. Hold onto your hat… and your sunglasses! Welcome aboard the Rapido 60. 

How are ambitious projects born?

Richard Eyre (an English-speaking Canadian sailor passionate about trimarans) and Paul Koch (formerly of Corsair Marine) are the protagonists of the Rapido story whose genesis is explained through a deep and ancient immersion in the world of trimaran building and an ultimate will to achieve.  Paul is the industrialist of the pair. He bought Corsair from John Walton i...

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16 Best Trimarans For Sailing Around The World (And a Few For Daysailing)

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Trimarans are growing in popularity worldwide, due to their light construction and high stability these multihulls are even faster than catamarans. Trimarans are still one of the lesser-known boat types so in this article ill be checking out some of the most popular models.

The best trimarans include: 

• The Neel 43 
• The Neel 47 
• Dragonfly 28 
• The Pulse 600 
• Corsair 37 

These tris are built with your safety in mind while also packing powerful speed and a wide array of comfort features to optimize your sailing experience , some are even foldable making them possible to load on a trailer and transport to the sailing destination of your choosing.

In this article, I have created a list of the 16 best trimarans in the market and their unique features. You’ll also learn the best options for different purposes such as circumnavigation, weekend sailing, racing, and more. 

Table of Contents

What Is a Trimaran?

A trimaran is a multi hulled sailboat with three individual hulls; the main hull ( vaka ) and a pair of outrigger hulls ( amas ). These smaller outrigger hulls are attached to the main hull using beams. 

While trimarans have a rich history dating back nearly four millennia, these types of sailboats have only gained popularity in the late 1900s and early 2000s. 

Trimarans are primarily used as personal boats for sailing enthusiasts or racing. These sailboats draw their versatility from their lightweight design, making them faster and easier to handle at sea when compared to single-hulled boats (monohulls). Additionally, the three hulls also contribute to better stability, making it very hard to capsize (although more likely than a cat according to this study)

Trimarans come in various sizes, and some can be as small as 19 feet (5.8 meters) in length, while others go up to 60 feet (18meters). They’re also used for different purposes. Most trimarans are used for racing and recreational purposes, although some units are still used as ferries.

As with all things, to find out which is the best we need to understand what it will be used for. There is a big difference in requirements between a boat used for day sailing compared to offshore around the world sailing.

The list below highlights the best trimarans for different purposes.

Best Trimarans For Cruising, Liveaboard and Sailing Around The World

The Neel 43 is a French trimaran best suited for cruising. Its key features include: 

• Easy maneuverability on the open sea by only a small number of crew members 

This unit is also built for comfort, ideal for more extended travels. This 43-feet (13-meter) trimaran is also made with recyclable and bio-sourced materials, highlighting the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental consciousness. 

This trimaran has a base price of  €329,000 excluding VAT. This translates to approximately $370,138. 

2.Neel 47 Possibly The Best

Named the best full-size multihull for 2020, the Neel 47 is a strong contender for one of the best trimarans in the market. This 47-foot (14.3-meter) long trimaran features optimized exterior and interior ergonomics for a unique design and look. 

Still on design, the Neel 47 is ideal for couples looking to take a weekend off or spend some time as liveaboard. It has a spacious owner’s cabin and two bedrooms. It also features a spacious living room and kitchen and is optimized to ensure comfort for a couple. 

The Neel 47 also has two basic guest cabins so your friends or children can tag along on your sailing adventure. Accordingly, this unit is ideal for those looking to explore the sea for the sheer joy of sailing. 

The Neel 47 comes at a 571,139 euro ( $643,600 ) price tag, excluding VAT. 

3. Rapido 60 The Fast and Comfortable Circumnavigator

The Rapido 60 offers a blend of performance, safety, and luxury, making it one of the best options for bluewater sailing. Measuring 59.3 feet (18 meters) in length, the Rapido 60 is an imposing unit. It’s made from lightweight sandwiches and carbon materials that provide speed and strength, allowing it to stand up to strong ocean currents. 

The Rapido 60 also has spacious living spaces and is built for comfort at all points of the sail. Its design also optimizes safety. While it’s an ideal option for circumnavigating, it’s also an excellent choice for racing due to its speed. 

This is also the same boat that The Youtube channel La Vagabond just purchased.

The Rapido 60 retails at $1,400,000 . 

4. Rapido 40

The Rapido 40 measures 39.4 feet (12 meters) in length and is ideal for cruising around the world. The Rapido 40 features twin “C” foils, which provide added lift, enhancing its speed and performance whether you are sailing downwind or upwind. 

Because it has C foils, this trimaran doesn’t have a central daggerboard, increasing interior space. Accordingly, it’s an excellent option for couples looking to cruise and enjoy great performances .

The Rapido 40 is made from high-tech all-carbon materials for a lightweight yet sturdy design. This material is also used for the countertops and furniture, and the cork flooring adds a touch of style.

This trimaran retails for $595,000 , making it a cheaper option than the Rapido 60. 

5. Dragonfly 40

The Dragonfly 40 measures 40 feet (12 meters) in length. It features high-comfort standards, making it one of the best trimarans in the market for taking your family for a cruise. Because of its larger size, it has a better capacity, being capable of accommodating six to eight people, so you can bring your family and friends along. 

It’s easy to navigate and extremely safe. With a maximum speed of 24 knots (44.5 km/h), this trimaran also provides fast speeds to make your cruise even more exhilarating. 

The Dragonfly 40 retails from €509,000 exclusive of VAT, which rounds up to $572,000 . 

6. Dragonfly 32

The Dragonfly 32 is a high-performance cruiser. Like the Dragonfly 28, this unit features a contemporary design for racing. This trimaran can accommodate five to seven crew members. 

Although slightly longer than the Dragonfly 28 with its 32-foot (9.8-meter) length, the Dragonfly 32 has a max speed of 23+ knots (42.6+ km/h), making it one of the fastest trimarans for racing. This unit also has comfortable accommodation, which makes it an ideal option for a weekend cruise with family and friends. 

The Dragonfly 32 has a base price of $350,000 . 

7. Corsair 37

Thanks to a variable draft with a retractable rudder, the Corsair 37 is an ideal choice for shallow water exploration. This 37-foot (11.3-meter) long trimaran features advanced foam-cored construction designed for safety, making it virtually unsinkable. 

The carbon hulls minimize weight, this makes for a lightweight ocean exploration sailboat with blistering speeds. One of its selling points is that this trimaran has previously been used for Arctic expeditions, possibly marking it as one of the better options for circumnavigation and offshore sailing in the northern waters. 

This trimaran has a base price of $189,000 but can go up to $204,125 .

Best Trimarans For Day/Weekend Sailing

8. dragonfly 28.

The Dragonfly 28 is a 28-feet (8.75-meter) long sailboat that can accommodate up to five people. It comes in two versions: 

• Touring version: This version is ideal for families.  
• Performance version: This is built to provide optimal performance for the sports enthusiast within you. 

It clocks a maximum speed of 22+ knots (22+ km/h) and is beam-folded. It’s an excellent option if you want a high-performance, comfortable yet smaller unit for your day or weekend cruise. 

The Dragonfly 28 starts at  €188,280 inclusive of VAT, which comes to around $211,600. 

9. Dragonfly 25

Like other trimarans under the Dragonfly brand, this 25-foot (7.62-meter) trimaran is great for both racing and short term cruising. However, this high-performance boat delivers easy handling, making it perfect for couples looking to take a ride out over the weekend and seasoned sailors looking for an exhilarating racing adventure. 

The Touring version features a lightweight build and offers comfort and accommodation to keep you, and the few guests you can fit, comfortable during the ride. This trimaran also has a Sport version, which is optimized for racing. 

The Dragonfly 25 retails from EUR 86,800 . 

10. Pulse 600

The Pulse 600 trimaran is a compact sailboat. It’s made from lightweight, carbon-reinforced construction and vacuum-formed materials for optimal speed. This trimaran is an ideal option if you are looking for speed. 

It also features ample deck space, greater stability, and volume than most trimarans of similar size and build. 

This trimaran measures 19.8 feet (6 meters) in length and can be sailed single-handedly by one person with minimal effort. The Pulse 600 has a base price of $38,800 , which places it in the lower price range. 

The F-22 is one of the smaller trimarans in the market. Developed in New Zealand, the F-22 is a folding trimaran built for speed. The hulls are made from narrow fiberglass tied together using fiberglass beams and aluminum, minimizing bulk while optimizing speed. 

The F-22 is roomy and is not as pricey as other models in the market. This trimaran has two main versions: 

12. 2019 Weta Trimaran

The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made from fiberglass and foam. The Weta is built for strength and speed based on these lightweight materials. 

The 2019 Weta trimaran is easy to sail and is worth considering whether you want to take a quiet sail, race with your friends, or take kids to a sailing lesson. It has a simple design and is easy to set up independently. Thanks to its collapsible design, this trimaran is easily stored away with minimal space demands. 

13. WindRider 17

The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market. It packs high performance for a low cost. This trimaran has a light rotating mast to boost performance, and a full-battened mainsail optimizes visibility. 

This sailboat is made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is more durable than fiberglass and demands less maintenance.

The WindRider 17 has a comfortable interior and can fit six adults. This is an ideal choice for social sailing for a couple or a family and friends. It’s easy to ride, and a shallow draft allows easy maneuverability. 

14. Astus 22.5

If you’re looking for something small but still comfortable, this 22.5-foot trimaran is for you. Built for speed and maneuverability, the Astus 22.5 has optional foils to optimize speed. The modern design, coupled with the spacious interior, can fit up to four beds. Accordingly, this trimaran is suited for family outings. 

This trimaran also has a foldable design, collapsing to only 16 feet (4.9 meters) for easy storage. 

15. Multi 23 Trimaran 

The Multi 23 trimaran has a contemporary design, featuring a vinyl ester and PVC foam core construction. The section below the waterline is made of solid glass for a sturdy base.

The beams are made of lightweight carbon, and the trimaran features a 33-foot (10-meter) aluminum rotating wing mast for optimal harnessing of the wind. While ideal for weekend excursions with family, once rigged with the asymmetrical spinnaker will get your heart pumping.

This trimaran packs high performance at a lower cost than most other options in the market. It’s a good choice if you are looking for a high-performing unit without spending an arm and a leg. 

16. Challenger Class Trimaran

The Challenger Trimaran 15 is the best choice for persons with disabilities. It’s designed to provide disabled sailors an opportunity to explore their passion for sailing without worrying about aspects like safety or operation. 

A man named Geoff Hold circumnavigated the British Isles in 2007, becoming the first disabled person to achieve this feat. He had quadriplegia. 

Living up to its name, the Challenger can withstand harsh weather conditions while blending performance with speed. 

Final Thoughts 

Admittedly, no trimaran is best for everyone. But whether you are looking to race with your friends, take your loved ones or friends for a cruise over the weekend, or circumnavigate the ocean, you can rest assured that these lightweight trimarans will deliver speed, safety, and comfort to make it worth your while. 

These brands are innovatively designed and feature intricate safety mechanisms that make them virtually unsinkable. Give them a shot and begin your ocean adventure. 

• Basco Boating: A Comprehensive Guide & Introduction to Trimaran Yachts
• TheBoatAPP: New Trumarans: Which are the Best Ones
• Corsair Marine: Corsair 37
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 28
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 60
• Neel Trimarans: Neel 43
• Yachting World: World’s Collect Yachts: Maxi Trimaran MACIF
• Yachting Monthly: Dragonfly 28 Performance
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 40
• Dragonfly: Dragon 32
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 40
• Yachting World: Dragonfly 40 yacht tour: This cruising trimaran can do 24 knots
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 25
• NauticExpo: Dragonfly 25
• Yachtworld: Corsair 37 boats for sale
• Cruising World: Neel 47 Trimaran: Best Full-Size Multihull0
• Neel Trimaran: Neel 47
• Multihull Solutions: NEEL 47 Boat Review | Cruising World
• Yacht World: 2022 Neel 47 for sale
• Farrier International: F-22
• Weta Marine: The Boat
• WindRider: WindRider 17 Trimaran Sailboat 
• Astus Boats: Astus 22.5
• Boat-specs: Multi 23
• National Maritime Museum Cornwall: Challenger Trimaran #1 – BC26

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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• By Cruising World Staff
• Updated: August 24, 2016

If you subscribe to the notion that two hulls are better than one, then why not try three? The Rapido 60 is a cruising trimaran designed by Morrelli & Melvin and built in Vietnam. Accommodations include two double cabins in the center hull and tons of room for lounging about topsides.

For more information, visit www.rapidotrimarans.com.

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Cruising Helmsman reviews Rapido 60, October 2020

September 24, 2020

• The Rapido 60 offers speed along with performance wrapped in comfort and luxury.
• Designed by renowned naval architects, Morrelli & Melvin
• …the large deckhouse windows bring lots of natural light.
• The Rapido 60 has a draft between 0.75m and 3.5m… (and) you get an average of 2.1m of headroom in the main hull.
• The Rapido 60 sails, on average, 1.4 times faster than the true wind speed.
• To put it into perspective, you sil at 12+ knots in 8 knots of true wind.
• The Rapido 60 is a wonderful alternative vessel to cruise the world.
• Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/
• File footage of Rapido 60, Romanza: Clay Bauman
• For Australia – John Rich: [email protected]
• For other dealers, click here .
• Paul Koch: [email protected]

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RAPIDO 60 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of RAPIDO 60. Built by Rapido Trimarans and designed by Morrelli & Melvin, the boat was first built in 2015. It has a hull type of Trimaran Dbrd. and LOA is 18.1. Its sail area/displacement ratio 46.23. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Yanmar, runs on Diesel/shaft drive.

RAPIDO 60 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about RAPIDO 60 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the rapido 60.

RAPIDO 60 was designed by Morrelli & Melvin.

Who builds RAPIDO 60?

RAPIDO 60 is built by Rapido Trimarans.

When was RAPIDO 60 first built?

RAPIDO 60 was first built in 2015.

How long is RAPIDO 60?

RAPIDO 60 is 18.1 m in length.

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Latest news.

WORLD FAMOUS SAILING LA VAGABONDE UPGRADES TO RAPIDO 60

The world’s most exciting sailing news is the long awaited decision that Sailing La Vagabonde will sail the world’s oceans aboard a Rapido 60.

Rapido is filling a segment in the market that is missing: a trimaran that is owner-operated, powerful, ocean-cruising, and can be safely crewed by two. The concept for the world’s fastest production cruising trimaran is designed by world-acclaimed naval architects, Morrelli & Melvin.

SLV comprises an Australian couple, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu and their two young children. Each week, they bring their adventures to our phones, desktops and iPads via their YouTube videos.

They began documenting their evolving journey on YouTube back in 2014 with a single-hull vessel. After a time, they upgraded to a twin-hull vessel. For the last 18-24 months, the couple have been researching which boat would become the future of their sailing story, and would proudly wear the title Sailing La Vagabonde III.

With the extraordinary reach and exposure of Sailing La Vagabonde, perhaps the Rapido represents the future of sailing. Riley and Elayna explain why and how the Rapido 60, a three-hulled 6o’ (18m) trimaran, met their criteria.

Initially, they were worried about the amount of space on board. However, once they were on board, this concern was perfectly fine. Riley describes the fore cabin as being “massive” with a “huge” bed. When you’re standing in the saloon, it’s actually a huge room.

During the test sail, the couple were convinced the boat could move at lightning speed. With just one hand on the helm, they were travelling under sail, maintaining speed at 25.7 knots. Even at that fast speed, it was only slightly heeling over. A Rapido trimaran only gets a heel of up to 15 degrees, this is important as they both want to travel safely while at a good pace. They said that when they were travelling at 20 knots, it felt like they were only going at 10 knots, and it also felt like they had so much more power sitting in reserve.

One thing that was really important with the trimaran was that Riley will have the ability to sail it single-handed, when Elayna cares for the two children on the boat.

The Rapido trimarans are stable boats that do not heel, ideal for long distances, short sprints and the passage between. They are ideal for discovering places that others cannot venture to when you sneak up alongside a secluded beach or glide over a reef. The draft of the Rapido 60 is just 0.75m with the rudder and daggerboard retracted.

Having the flexibility to power up and sail away from bad weather systems is paramount. The Rapido can be sailed short-handed with centralised systems, Karver reefing hooks, self-tacking furling jibs, furling reacher and stay sails. Boasting excellent safety, the Rapido is designed to put you in control for fast, safe, fun sailing.

The nets on each side of the Rapido 60 measure 6.3m x 3m (that’s 18.9 m2), providing enormous space to play or lounge upon when the fish are not biting. They also provide an exhilarating vantage point when cruising to watch the water rush by beneath.

The foam sandwich and carbon construction provide an extremely strong and rigid structure. This enables the Rapido to withstand the might of the oceans, without carrying excessive weight.

The T-foil rudder blade is designed to provide additional stability and control. Each float (ama) has four watertight bulkheads. The main hull has five bulkheads to ensure that the Rapido 60 is as safe and unsinkable as possible. The engine and main equipment compartment has two bulkheads and is located under the saloon.

There are three emergency escape hatches: one located in the forward cabin, the second is in the aft cabin, and the third is in the main storage compartment under the cockpit. This storage compartment has been specifically designed as a safe survival area. Automatic and portable bilge pumps are provided.

The helm position offers superb all-round visibility. It is in an elevated position, away from the elements with a hard top bimini with sliding roof. It has a 1.2m wide seat/leaning post for seating comfort and standing support. Main controls are at the helm making single or short-handed sailing easier and safer. Steering is direct with strong well-engineered Jefa systems.

An emergency rudder blade is ready to deploy in an emergency. The engine compartment has an auto fire extinguisher system. There are an additional three portable fire extinguishers and a fire blanket. Diesel is the only fuel on board for engine, stove and heating, which removes the need to carry highly flammable cooking gas.

The head sails are on furlers for ease of deployment and operation. There are twin bow anchors with the main anchor ready to deploy. A dedicated storage area for safety equipment and wet weather gear is located in the cockpit. Jack stays and clip-on points are provided, as are bow and stern cockpit safety rails. Even in the storms of the southern oceans, trimarans are safe, easy to handle and faster on all points of sail due to their wide beam and light weight.

Riley plans to be on hand at the Vietnam-based factory to customise certain aspects of the boat to better suit their family. www.sailing-lavagabonde.com

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

LENGTH: 18.1M

BEAM: 11.7M

DRAFT: 0.75M

DISPLACEMENT (LIGHT): 10,000KG

DISPLACEMENT (MAX LOAD): 12,000KG

HEADROOM (AVERAGE): 2.1M

SAIL SPECIFICATIONS

MAINSAIL: 125M²

SOLENT: 71M²

STORM SAIL: 25M²

REACHER: 130M²

ASYMMETRIC SPIN: 225M²

MAST HEIGHT ABOVE: 25.3M

Rapido have also developed a folding trimaran system, making their new Rapido 40 and 50 models available with a folding mechanism that will allow them to access monohull marina berths. The Rapido folding system keeps the floats vertical when in the folded position, preventing growth from occurring on the sides of the floats and ensuring they remain in pristine condition. The Rapido system also adds to the overall strength of the boat by reducing the loads on the beams when sailing without adding any length to the boat when folded.

Rapido Trimarans are distributed by Multihull Solutions as the Asia and Pacific dealer for its innovative range of ocean-cruising trimarans. Further information on the Rapido Trimarans range can be obtained by contacting Multihull Solutions on 1300 855 338 or emailing [email protected]

Published in print January-March 2022

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

First look: Rapido 50 folding trimaran

• June 9, 2021

The recently launched Rapido 50 will share many of the same characteristics of her predecessors as a performance folding trimaran that should turn heads

When launched in 2016 the Morelli and Melvin-designed Rapido 60 quickly established this brand as a new breed of ultra-fast, yet practical, performance cruising/racing trimaran

The Vietnam-based builder has two further models in development, at 40ft and 50ft. Both are folding multihull designs, which enables them to slip into a regular monohull marina berth and reduces storage costs when ashore.

Construction of the Morelli and Melvin design is of infused carbon foam sandwich, with beams, daggerboards and rudder made of pre-preg carbon. The central hull is configured for single-level living, with the cockpit and deckhouse both on the same level, although the Rapido 50 has a higher helm station to give a clear view over the coachroof.

Polars for this model show it being capable of well over 20 knots of boat speed across a wide range of reaching wind angles, and as much as 18 knots beam reaching in just 14 knots of breeze. The first Rapido 50 was built for delivery to an owner in Palma, Mallorca.

Article continues below…

Sailing La Vagabonde explain their multihull criteria

Over the last seven years Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu have advanced from novice sailors to logging more ocean miles…

The inside story of Greta Thunberg’s upwind Atlantic crossing on La Vagabonde

The sky flashed a blinding white light and a spark came down just a few hundred metres to port. We…

Rapido is also working on a 40-footer with curved C-foils and T-foil rudders. As well as offering a performance boost, without the control issues of a fully foiling boat, these allow the interior to be opened up as there’s no need for a daggerboard in the central hull.

The result looks to be a very enticing high performance yacht with a civilised two-cabin interior and acres of deck space.

Base prices are ex works, ex sails and electronics, and with aluminium spars.

Rapido 50 specification

LOA: 15.24m / 50ft 9in LWL: 14.96m / 49ft 1in Max beam: 10.38m / 34ft 1in Folded beam: 5.5m / 18ft 1in Draught: 0.67-3.52m / 2ft 2in to 11ft 7in Displacement (light): 8,200kg / 14,400lb Base Price: US$1.25m ex VAT

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Description

Boat layout.

Billed as the ‘World’s Ultimate Ocean-Cruising Trimaran’, the Rapido 60 offers optimal speed, safety, performance and luxury.

Powerful The Rapido 60 is approximately half the weight of an 18m/60’ performance catamaran with an equivalent sail plan. Combine this with carbon-fibre construction, a high modulus rotating carbon mast, North 3Di sails, hull, float and overall design utilising Morelli & Melvin’s America’s Cup experience and technology, and the result is a powerful and fast, purpose-designed ocean cruiser that is remarkably easy to sail. Round-the-World and distance records are held by trimarans for good reason; even in the storms of the Southern Ocean, they are fast, easy to handle and safe!

Stable Safety is a top priority for Rapido Trimarans, and the Rapido 60 has E-glass, foam-sandwich and carbon construction to provide and extremely strong, rigid but relatively light structure. The T-carbon foil rudder blade is designed to provide additional stability and control.

Each float has four watertight bulkheads, and the main hull has five bulkheads to ensure the Rapido 60 is as safe and unsinkable as possible. There are four emergency escape hatches with one in the main storage compartment under the cockpit, which has been specifically designed as a safe survival area. Automatic and portable bilge pumps are also provided.

The helm station provides superb all-round visibility and is high and away from the elements. Main controls are at the helm, making single or short-handed sailing easier and safer. Steering is direct with strong, well-engineered Jefa systems. An emergency rudder blade is provided, and the engine compartment has an auto fire-extinguisher system. There are an additional four portable fire extinguishers and a fire blanket.

The headsails are on structural and torsional furlers for ease of deployment and operation. There is a dedicated storage area for safety equipment and wet weather gear in the cockpit. Jackstays and clip-on points are provided, as are bow and stern cockpit safety rails.

The Rapido 60 is designed for optimal, fast performance to get out of harm’s way, as storm avoidance is one of the best safety options! Built to CE A certification.

Spacious The Rapido 60 has truly amazing living space and storage areas with more open, private and intimate areas than monohulls and catamarans and greater usable storage than an equivalent-sized catamaran.

The cockpit, saloon, galley and navigation station are all on the same level providing a bridge, open, airy living area of 5.7m x 3.8m. The aft and forward master cabins are spacious and light with private head and shower.

The aft deck seating and lounge area ensures that crew and guests can enjoy being part of the helm action. The area forward of the mast area has been specifically designed as a private secure sun deck. Comfortable nets (6.3m x 3m / 20’8’ x 9’10”) on both sides of the Rapido 60 provide an enormous space to play and lounge. The large transom swim plaform is equipped with hot and cold shower and a ladder. Each float has a massive 4.8m x 1.2m storage compartment for fenders and water toys etc, with a custom oversized hatch.

The cockpit has under-seat compartments with dedicated wet weather gear, shoes and safety spaces. Additional large exterior storage is in the bow and anchor lockers. Interior storage includes under seat in the salon, generous sized galley drawers, locker under both bunks, hanging lockers and shelves with soft-close lids, as well as lockers in the heads.

Fun The Rapido 60 is designed to be an owner-operated boat and has proven to be remarkably responsive, easy to sail and manoeuvre. The draft is only 0.75m when the rudder blade and dagger boards are retracted, facilitating shallow water navigation and anchorage. The huge nets on both sides give you space to play and lounge.

The mainsail also provides expansive shade, and gives the trimaran’s ability to generate apparent wind, it is noticeably cooler than slower boats. In addition, it has excellent insulation with its foam-sandwich construction, which provides greater year-round comfort.

Strong The Rapido 60 has a foam-sandwich and carbon construction providing an extremely strong and rigid structure that is relatively light and designed to withstand the might of the oceans while offering outstanding speed in friendlier conditions. The foam-sandwich construction also offers a high degree of insulation making the Rapido cooler for Asia Pacific’s often unforgiving climates.

The Rapido 60’s construction is also incredibly strong, with rigorous testing proving its ability to tackle the most arduous ocean conditions.

Specifications

• Length overall 18.1m / 59.3 ft
• Beam 11.7m / 38.4 ft
• Draft 0.75m / 2.5 ft
• Displacement (light) 10,000kg / 22,046 lb
• Displacement (max load) 12,000kg / 26,456 lb
• Headroom (average) 2.1m / 6 ft 9"
• Mast height above water 25.3m / 83 ft
• Mainsail 125m² / 1,345 ft²
• Solent 71m² / 764 ft²
• Storm sail 25m² / 269 ft²
• Reacher 130m² / 1,399 ft²
• Asymmetric spinnaker 210m² / 2,260 ft²

Morelli & Melvin lean on cutting-edge technology for modern yacht design BY ZUZANA PROCHAZKA for Multihull Sailor Magazine If you’ve watched America’s Cup or grand prix sailboat racing you may have noticed the mindboggling technology that goes into moving a mass of magnificently crafted composite around some buoys or around... read more BY ZUZANA PROCHAZKA for Multihull Sailor Magazine

Written for Multihulls World Magazine  Harnessing the Wind Years ago at the start of his new project of building larger cruising trimarans, I met and talked with Rapido co-owner, Paul Koch. It was an interesting conversation, without hyperbole and very factual. It was a very no-nonsense Australian style approach, in... read more Kevin Green

Rapido Trimarans is thrilled to confirm that Sailing La Vagabonde (SLV) will sail the world’s oceans aboard a Rapido 60! In fact, SLV’s video announcing the decision to their 1.59 million subscribers (yes, 1.59m subscribers!) will go live live at 8.30am, Adelaide time in Australia (GMT/UTC +9:30) on 8 June 2021. See... read more Sailing La Vagabonde

Young Aussie couple, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu went from backpackers to superstar sailors via their video posts on YouTube that gleaned them enough subscribers (a staggering 1.6 million) that enables them to sail full time. Recently, their fame was extended when they took teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg across... read more Multihull World Australia

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Rapido Trimarans – On the march

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Rapido Trimarans, is the brainchild of directors Paul Koch and James Sganzerla, who ran the highly regarded and successful Corsair Marine from 1994 to 2010.

Their collective experience of 60 years building more than 1,500 trimarans is combined with the corporate and production management expertise of Richard Eyre, Phil Johns and Damien Judd. The hard-won experience and eye for detail of this core team guides their talented, 60-strong Vietnamese staff at Triac Composites, who produce lightweight high-end composite structures that span numerous disciplines.

‘Compared with cruising cats, cruising trimarans in general are much simpler for their reliance on only one system for steering and propulsion,’ says Rapido’s designer Pete Melvin, who is one half of the mighty Morelli and Melvin design house famous for everything from America’s Cup and Jules Verne Trophy winners to cruising multihulls and Olympic Class one designs.

‘Less weight, complication, maintenance, tankage and cost are all factors that appeal to serious cruising sailors who are interested in getting further, faster and hassle-free. Sail control systems can also be simpler as the distances to route control lines can be less with a single, central location. This is also less hassle and expense.

‘We produce a high-performance line of trimarans that also offer reasonable amenities and safety. The innovation in design comes with the layout of the main hull and reaching the balance between beam, draught and trim to carry the accommodation without too much compromise on performance,’ he adds.

On both the Rapido 60 and 50, keeping the main saloon on the same level as the cockpit promotes a flow-through feel of being more spacious with better visibility and light than conventional designs. This elevated floor plan is possible with a generous, yet streamlined design to the cabin and also allows for the extra volume needed under the floorboards for propulsion and plumbing systems, fuel, water and waste tanks and storage for other heavy items without hindering access for maintenance.

On the Rapido 60 this is especially true of the full-access engine room next to the daggerboard case at the weight centre of the boat. All parts of the Yanmar 4-cylinder 53 HP diesel are accessible from all sides. This space also includes the fuel tank, an optional 8 kW generator, Spectra 24V electric watermaker, a water heater and electrical charging systems. Watertight bulkheads and an automated fire suppression system protect the space, and since all filters and serviceable items are in this isolated area, any leaks or spills will be confined and easy to clean.

The main hull’s beam achieves a similar balance of desired interior volume for good accommodation without too much compromise on weight and drag under sail. The cross-sectional shape of the main hull tapers with elevation to create more volume. Unlike a monohull, this portion of the hull never sees the waterplane due to the constrained heel angles. The stability advantage in Rapidos comes in part from their high volume floats and a wide beam relative to their maximum displacement. Add the C-curved twin daggerboards on the Rapido 40 and the boat can be driven even harder.

Passive ventilation and Lewmar hatches and portlights ensure that the saloon and cabins are airy on all three designs. The carbon fibre foam sandwich construction provides a high level of insulation. There’s enough space aft of the beams and over the transom for solar panels to provide supplementary electric charging to the DC voltage system.

Paul Koch’s extensive experience is shown in both the build quality and clever innovations. His 30 years of collaboration with Pete Melvin has created a trust uncommon in many designer-builder relationships. Triac Composites’ in-house design engineering team ensures faithful and accurate fabrication to the design specifications provided by Morrelli and Melvin.

Among the modern equipment at Triac’s 3000m2 facility in Ho Chi Minh City is a seven-axis Kuka robotic CNC machine mounted on a 23-metre track for milling complex tooling moulds. This is in addition to other CNC machinery, an 8.5 metre autoclave and other equipment that makes Triac a regional leader in the production of complex composites. The factory is on a river with direct access to the sea so boats of any size can be sailed away.

‘We use pre-preg carbon for the high-strength parts such as the cross beams (which are cured in the autoclave), chainplates and bulkheads,’ says Koch. ‘The cross beams are tapered on the ends so assembly is easy, the fit in the main hull is perfect and it’s strong as hell.’

Construction is infused carbon/vinylester laminates on closed-cell PVC cores for high-strength areas and E-glass where carbon is not needed. Vinylester is used in the hull and deck laminates for good adhesion and better compatibility with the gelcoat finish than with epoxy laminates, which are used in the structural elements of the boat. Construction meets ISO/CE standards and with CE Category A certification.

The mast is carbon and on the Rapido 60, the diamonds are Future Fibres’ carbon EC-6 attached to a titanium plate tensioned by a hydraulic ram positioned at the mast base. The ram allows easy tensioning for tuning. Deck gear has all Harken winches and blocks, with Spinlock and Karver clutches and Karver halyard locks to reduce rig compression loads, which are adjusted at the tack of the headsails by deck-mounted tensioning systems.

The furling Solent genoa mounted on the inner forestay is self-tacking and the mainsail reef system uses Karver reef hooks mounted on Dyneema straps wrapping the boom to distribute the loads with minimal chafe. A furling fractional Code 0 and a masthead furling gennaker tack on the bow just ahead of the headstay. Two Harken winches on the cabin top forward of the helm station handle main and Solent sheet loads. Rope clutches for halyards, mast rotation and board up and down controls are positioned to use the same winches.

The boom has truss wings with netting to catch the full-battened mainsail, which is on Antal sliders for easy hoisting, reefing and furling.

On a windy tight beat the Rapido 60’s performance is amazing, with racing monohull angles (thanks in part to the deep carbon fibre daggerboard) and speeds of 17+kts, while at reaching angles the boat far exceeds windspeed with exhilarating acceleration. There is a sweet spot between 18 and 23 knots where the boat simply purrs with one finger on the wheel. Even at 27kts the feeling of absolute control, comfort and security is most apparent.

‘At 10 tons in racing mode and up to two tons more when fully equipped and provisioned, the Rapido 60 is a perfect platform for long-distance and ocean cruising,’ says Koch. ‘The Rapido 50 is also suitable for this kind of cruising, while the Rapido 40 is designed for more regional use. We are excited about offering these easy, fun to sail, safe performance trimarans that have so much living space. Interest in these fast and innovative designs is strong as they fill a real void in the market.’

For ratios of length, beam and displacement trimarans generally offer greater sail-carrying power and higher performance than equivalent-sized catamarans. Because all the elements of the propulsion, electrical and plumbing systems are contained in one hull and not spread across two, there is also less weight to drag through the water and the centre hull’s design can be more forgiving in trim variation than with most cats.

Trimarans are more stable and more sea kindly than monohulls and catamarans and do not have the slamming and fore-and-aft pitching of cats or the terrible 30 degrees-plus heeling of monohulls. Centralising all heavy equipment in the centre of the main hull, as Rapido does, contributes immensely to comfortable, stable movement through the water.

Accommodation can be as spacious as most monohulls and given the angles they sail at, even in hot summers there’s usually good air flow and shade. Retractable daggerboards and rudder blades enable exploration and anchoring where fixed-keel monohulls cannot venture. Being able to anchor nearer the shore means even coming late to an anchorage one generally gets the prime spots.

As the space taken by support systems is only in one hull, it leaves the outboard amas available for light item storage, water toys, fenders and ropes. The R60 has a custom hatch to access the four-metre-long storage area. With the foredeck and “acres” of nets to lounge on safely even at speed, plus the aft deck with custom outer seating, separate cockpit and generous saloon (plus cabins), owners, crews and guests can choose to be sociable or find their own private space. The other standout is the helm position, with complete 365- degree visibility and views of the bows of all three hulls.

While monohulls will heel at 25 or 30 degrees, making basic daily tasks and just getting around the boat something of a tiring and even athletic event, trimarans with their relatively flat sailing give far greater comfort, better rest and less stress. The longer centre hull and centerlinemounted rudder and daggerboard contribute to having better monohull-like manoeuvrability than catamarans, particularly while tacking. The lack of a bridge deck also eliminates the slamming of waves common to most catamarans, which significantly affects their ride quality and speed when sailing upwind.

Safety is also an issue that is well addressed in most trimarans. The R60’s construction is foam sandwich with many watertight bulkheads making it essentially unsinkable.

Click here for more information on Rapido

Click here for more information on Triac Composites

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