rapido trimaran 60

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Sailing Totem
• Sailor & Galley
• Living Aboard
• Destinations
• Gear & Electronics
• Charter Resources
• Ultimate Boating Giveaway

• 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.

• More: new boat showcase 2017 , Sailboats , trimaran
• More Sailboats

New on the Docks: Leopard 46

Sailboat Review: Dufour 41

Pre-Owned: 1988 Hylas 47

Catalina Introduces the 6 Series

Minimalist Cruising: Georgian Bay by Dinghy

Best Practices for Boat-Show Shopping

Savoring Superior: A Great Lakes Cruise To Remember

Point Your Compass Due South, Bitter End Yacht Club Reopens October 23rd.

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• Beneteau First
• Beneteau Oceanis
• Oceanis Yacht
• Figaro Beneteau 3
• Excess Catamarans
• NEEL-TRIMARANS
• Privilège Catamarans
• Seawind Catamarans
• Corsair Marine Trimarans
• Rapido Trimarans
• Beneteau Swift Trawler
• Beneteau Antares
• Beneteau Flyer
• Beneteau Gran Turismo
• LEEN-TRIMARANS
• Semi-Rigids
• Power boats
• Cruising itineraries
• Charter Fleet
• Long Term Yacht Rental
• Service Center
• Garmin Tahiti
• Tahiti marine upholstery
• Meet the team
• Sell your yacht
• Prepare your Sailing Project
• Finance your boat
• Insure your boat
• Strategy for selling in Tahiti

David Allouch - performance multihull expert

I’d be delighted to help you to find the performance multihull that suits your lifestyle.  We represent Rapido as well as Neel Trimarans, Excess Catamarans and Seawind.   To learn more about how we can help you just book a call >>

Performance Trimarans in French Polynesia

Rapido 60 from 1.79M USD

Brochure rapido 60, rapido 60 in video .

Specifications

• Length: 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)

Plan de Voilure

• Mainsail: 125m² (1,345 ft²)
• Solent: 71m² (764 ft²)
• Storm sail: 25m² (269 ft²)
• Reacher: 130m² (1,399 ft²)
• Asymmetric Spin: 210m² (2,260 ft²)

SPEED, SAFETY, PERFORMANCE… & LUXURY

“ I  sailed Rapido Hull #01 on the  Mediterranean Sea  the other day and we were doing 14 knots upwind while cooking in the spacious kitchen !” Ferdinand van West (former F18 World Champion working with designers,  Morrelli & Melvin ). ( Click here  for original article.)

Billed as the  World’s Ultimate Ocean Cruising Trimaran , the Rapido 60 really is the  Queen of the Oceans . It offers speed, safety, performance – and luxury.

The inspiration behind the Rapido 60 comes from Paul Koch (co founder of Rapido Trimarans), arguably, the man who has built more production trimarans than anyone else on the planet.

The design is by world renowned naval architects,  Morelli & Melvin Design and Engineering  who use some of the  most sophisticated technology  in the world and the construction is by  Triac Composites .

The foam sandwich and carbon construction provides an extremely strong and rigid structure that is relatively light and designed to withstand the might of the oceans and offer speed in friendlier conditions. The foam sandwich construction also offers a high degree of insulation making the Rapido cooler when the sun beats down.

Just how tough are the composites on the Rapido?

An ocean-crossing trimaran must be strong. Very strong.  As big as a 60′ trimaran is, it is but a floating cork on a boundless ocean.

Morelli & Melvin enjoy a very strong international reputation which includes designing entries for the  America’s Cup . Their computer modelling said that the boat was very strong. And so we tested it.

We bolted the centre hull of the Rapido to the factory floor in HCMC. We then brought in two mobile cranes – each took a diagonal corner of the two outer hulls. With one diagonal corner each, the two cranes began to lift while the trimaran’s centre hull remained bolted to the floor, causing it to twist. One tonne of lifting pressure… Two tonnes… Three tonnes…

As the trimaran twisted it began to creak and groan. But the sensitive electronic equipment we had measuring every move and twist remained unphased. Everything was within design parameters.

Seven tonnes… Eight tonnes… Nine tonnes… Enough!  The pressure was eased and the Rapido spring back into its original condition – totally unaffected by the enormous twisting pressure that had been placed upon it.

The computer modelling had accurately predicted the enormous structural strength of the composites used in the Rapido. The Rapido is built to take on the oceans. Rapido is, simply, the Queen of the Oceans.

A stunning success for the Rapido and another milestone for composites.

You may also like

buy A propspeed FOUL-RELEASE COATING FOR ALL UNDERWATER METALS

buy ar pantaenius insurance

buy rx kingpin peg

buy gold coast city marina

sanctuary cove marina

buy ozwinch marine queensland

buy redlands city marina queensland

buy s horizon shores marina

buy e airlie summit queensland

buy l ocean arrow marine harpoon boats

buy first mate boat service app gold coast

buy sealegs

buy inflatable pontoons

buy z east coast marina manly

Z go kingpin eco pack

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

buy d scibs sanctuary cove boat show ticket sales 2024

buy sanctuary cove boat show

find mercury outboards

find yamaha outboards

Share this article, related people articles.

The Little Big Ship

HAINES HUNTER 565 OFFSHORE – Great for families & hardcore fishos

Introducing Kids to Sailing

Loading, please wait.

• The magazine

Current issue

• All the issues
• My magazines
• Technical specifications
• Multihull of the Year
• Classified Ads
• Destinations
• Online store
• All the magazines
• Subscriptions
• Accessories

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!

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

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

Boat Test price 5.00 € Inc. tax

Add several tests to your cart

and get an extra discount!

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...

To read in full, Buy the boat test

What readers think.

Post a comment

No comments to show.

MW #197 - Oct / Nov 2024

Download all the Boat Tests

Over 500 multihull tests

Boat tests from the same builder

Place a classified ad Free of charge

on Multihulls World

Classified ads

Multi 23 Trimaran: Performance and Versatility Combined

TRIMARAN MULTI 23

A beautiful, recently overhauled, folding Dragonfly 800 trimaran with roadtrailer for sale in Spain.

NINJA 8 (SOLD)

Vous avez ajouté " " à vos favoris., vous avez supprimé " " de vos favoris., in order to add this article to your favorites, please sign in..

Sailing La Vagabonde – Rapido 60

"Oceanvolt will be the perfect compliment to the Rapido Trimaran and Project SLV. Silent, emission free propulsion is a dream for sailors everywhere and the regeneration curves on a vessel as powerful as the Rapido are extraordinary!" "The Oceanvolt motor has already proved itself invaluable. On our first crossing our diesel had a major failure and was inoperable. The Oceanvolt gave us power and got us home." – Riley, Sailing La Vagabonde

Billed as the World’s Ultimate Ocean Cruising Trimaran, the Rapido 60 really is the Queen of the Oceans. It offers speed, safety, performance – and luxury.

The inspiration behind the Rapido 60 comes from Paul Koch (co founder of Rapido Trimarans), arguably, the man who has built more production trimarans than anyone else on the planet.

The design is by world renowned naval architects, Morelli & Melvin Design and Engineering who use some of the most sophisticated technology in the world.

Technology used in the electric Rapido 60 Trimaran:

• Boatbuilder: Rapido Trimarans
• Length overall: 18.1 m
• Boat beam: 11.7 m
• Displacement: 10000 kg
• Electric motor system: Oceanvolt ServoProp 10 saildrive motor
• Electric motor system nominal power: 10kW
• Electric motor system voltage: 48 V

Written by Anna

View all posts by: Anna

Comments are closed.

• Sponsorships
• Hydrogenerator

Rapido 60, A Bold Gamechanger For Performance Bluewater Cruising, reports Yacht World

September 26, 2021

Yacht World has just published an article, Rapido 60 Trimaran Boat Review: A Bold Gamechanger For Performance Bluewater Cruising , by Zuzana Prochazka, dated 23 September, 2021.

The original article, in full can be viewed by clicking here . Five quotes are reproduced below .

• …the Rapido 60… has been touted as a couple’s boat for people who want to sail fast but still want to be comfortable and safe even when sailing with fewer crew aboard.
• To design this otherworldly machine (the designers of the Rapido 60, Morrelli & Melvin )…, pulled out all the high-tech design tools at their disposal including Finite Element Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Fluid Structure Interaction and the GOMBOC Velocity Prediction Program which they have a license to use. (It was developed for America’s Cup boat design.)
• All three hulls have watertight bulkheads. Critical areas where high load stress is expected (like cockpit door frames) are reinforced with carbon that adds strength but not at the expense of weight since an overbuilt boat is a slow boat. Interior furniture is constructed of a lightweight core and composite panels.
• The Rapido 60 is approximately half the weight of a 60-foot performance catamaran…
• For couple’s cruising, it’s a gamechanger.

To read the original article in Yacht World, click here . 

• Note! The author of this article, Zuzana Prochazka has just done an extensive interview with Morrelli & Melvin about Rapido Trimarans. Her article is expected to be published in the US in six weeks’ time, in November 2021. Look forward to a fascinating and detailed insight into the design and engineering that is built into the Rapidos!

Related articles

• Multihulls World Australia, Harnessing the wind , by Kevin Green. September / October 2021 issue, 6 page spread on Rapido Trimarans.
• Sailing La Vagabonde choose Rapido 60 to sail world’s oceans , video announcement to its 1.59 million subscribers, You Tube, 8 June 2021
• Rapido 60, THE ULTIMATE RACER-CRUISER; Clients on Romanza are turning heads on the racetrack when they’re not cruising at high speed , North Sails website, May 2021
• Making Short-handed Short Work – Onboard Rapido 60 , Sail-World, February 2021
• Also, scroll through the  News  section of our website and you will see numerous stories about the Rapido 60 in New Zealand which showcase its performance.

Video: Launch of Rapido 50 #03, Tuff ...

#03, Tuff Gong, was launched on 16 August 2024 and then set off on ...

Rapido Trimarans Statement regarding ...

RAPIDO TRIMARANS STATEMENT, La Vagabonde III 22 August 2024 The...

Press Release! New Class Racer, Rapid...

Rapido Trimarans has commenced construction of their new class raci...

For Real Sailors. The Rapido 60 is the world’s fastest cruising trimaran. The Rapido 60 offers a spacious and luxurious experience with safe, cutting edge, on-water performance.

Make or Manufacturer

Length overall, displacement.

About Rapido 60

Billed as the World’s Ultimate Ocean Cruising Trimaran, the Rapido 60 really is the Queen of the Oceans. It offers speed, safety, performance – and luxury.

The inspiration behind the Rapido 60 comes from Paul Koch (co founder of Rapido Trimarans), arguably, the man who has built more production trimarans than anyone else on the planet.

The design is by world renowned naval architects, Morelli & Melvin Design and Engineering and the construction is by Triac Composites.

The foam sandwich and carbon construction provides an extremely strong and rigid structure that is relatively light and designed to withstand the might of the oceans and offer speed in friendlier conditions. The foam sandwich construction also offers a high degree of insulation making the Rapido cooler when the sun beats down.

Just how tough are the composites on the Rapido?

An ocean-crossing trimaran must be strong. Very strong.

As big as a 60′ trimaran is, it is but a floating cork on a boundless ocean.

Morelli & Melvin enjoy a very strong international reputation which includes designing entries for the America’s Cup. Their computer modelling said that the boat was very strong. And so we tested it.

We bolted the centre hull of the Rapido to the factory floor in HCMC. We then brought in two mobile cranes – each took a diagonal corner of the two outer hulls. With one diagonal corner each, the two cranes began to lift while the trimaran’s centre hull remained bolted to the floor, causing it to twist. One tonne of lifting pressure… Two tonnes… Three tonnes…

As the trimaran twisted it began to creak and groan. But the sensitive electronic equipment we had measuring every move and twist remained unphased. Everything was within design parameters.

Seven tonnes… Eight tonnes… Nine tonnes…

The pressure was eased and the Rapido spring back into its original condition – totally unaffected by the enormous twisting pressure that had been placed upon it.

The computer modelling had accurately predicted the enormous structural strength of the composites used in the Rapido. The Rapido is built to take on the oceans. Rapido is, simply, the Queen of the Oceans.

A stunning success for the Rapido and another milestone for composites.

Why Rapido 60

FAST AND POWERFUL Trimarans are safe, powerful and fast as demonstrated by the fact that they consistently win races and hold the solo speed record for circumnavigating the world.

SAFE Safety at sea is the No. 1 priority and this thinking is reflected throughout the design and construction of the Rapido.

SPACIOUS The Rapido 60 has some truly amazing living spaces which provide more open, private and intimate areas than monohulls or catamarans.

STABLE AND COMFORTABLE Trimarans are comfortable on all points of sail.

FUN The combination of safety, performance and comfort put the Rapido in a league of its own. The enormous trampoline nets add fun and excitement as you watch the blue water rush underneath you – or as you lounge on the nets while gently floating over a reef. You will be instantly hooked..

Follow This Boat