Rapido 40
The World’s Ultimate Folding, All Carbon, Ocean-Cruising Trimaran

The all-carbon Rapido 40 has been nominated as a SAIL Top 10 Best Boats Nominee for 2024. Click here for details.

World acclaimed designers and engineers, Morrelli & Melvin have ensured that the DNA of the Rapido 60 has been incorporated into the all carbon and folding Rapido 40. It is a state of the art trimaran designed and built for:

• Podium performances
• Fast passage-making
• Classic cruising
• Couples; and
• Sailors.

The Rapido 40 is a high tech, all-carbon, performance cruiser with a self-tacking jib, carbon spreaderless mast and an option for a roller furling boom.

The interiors have super lightweight, strong, custom made furniture; even the countertops and drawers are carbon! The flooring is made from cork.

While others are compelled to motor away from weather systems best avoided, the Rapido can be powered up to simply sail away with the skipper maintaining complete control.

Safety is a big factor in our design and construction. As well as carbon-foam construction, there are multiple watertight bulkheads. The engine compartment is contained within watertight bulkheads.

We build our own epoxy prepreg autoclave-cured mast and boom (designed by Morrelli & Melvin, specifically for the Rapido 40), as well as dagger C foils, rudders, beams, chainplate bulkheads, folding struts, pulpits, seats, table, benchtop and drawers (in galley).

Essentially, if you have a passion for sailing, this is the boat for you!

The Rapido 40 is built by Rapido Trimarans’ exclusive builder, Triac Composites.

C foils

[Caption: Rapido 40 “C" foils and “T" rudder foil. Note; “C" foils replace the need for a central daggerboard in the saloon opening up a significant amount of space.]

The asymmetric twin “C” foils give the Rapido 40 more lift than usual resulting in a significant increase in performance, both upwind and downwind. Also, the C foils eliminate the need for a central daggerboard which increases the amount of interior space. It also creates 360 degree visibility. (In the diagram above, note the “T" rudder foil in the “down" position.)

For normal day sailing or cruising, both C foils can be in the “down" position or one raised without adding material drag.

Advantages of the Rapido 40 

Customers always have options in the market. We believe the Rapido 40, designed and engineered by the world’s best, Morrelli and Melvin (US based) will increasingly capture the interest of this segment because it is:

• Lighter
• Faster
• All carbon foam sandwich construction, tapered rotating wing mast (performance or standard), C foils, beams struts etc – all made from prepreg carbon and cured in our own autoclave
• Easier and safer to handle with its self-tacking jib and roller furler head sails
• CE-A certified for safer ocean crossings
• Better balanced (weight distribution positions heavy items (eg engine) in the middle of the boat)
• Offering a more functional and spacious interior (eg 360 degree views in the saloon), raised saloon (ie, it is not located down in the hull) and is finished to a high standard
• Huge amount of storage

Caption: Rapido 40 storage. Click to view high resolution pdf file.

[Caption: Co founder Paul Koch is 6’3" and here he stands in the saloon of the Rapido 40 which has a clearance of 6’7" (201cm).]

• Latest high tech design and engineering (see Morrelli & Melvin) in this all-carbon boat
• Two separate cabins (aft cabin can be a double or two separate single berths)
• Folding floats (reduced fees for marina, hard stand and shipping). See more below!
• Electric options

We believe the Rapido 40 very clearly sets itself apart from other offerings in the market in terms of both performance and value. Please independently check our claim!

BENEFITS OF FOLDING FLOATS

• Access to single marina berths
• Access to all marinas
• Reduced marina, hard stand and shipping costs
• Stability of trimaran is maintained during folding and while in the folded position.

Safety and Watertight bulkheads

While some bulkheads are completely watertight, all are watertight below the waterline.

Further details

• Email co founder, Paul Koch