[8 February 2026] Remarkable news has reached us from the bottom of the world: Antarctica!!
Through a small number of photos and short video clips received in recent days (we will post a video separately), we can see that Aldo Fumagalli and the crew of the Rapido 53XS Picomole have crossed the Drake Passage and reached the Antarctic Peninsula. The images place them between Anvers Island and Brabant Island — among glaciers, drifting ice, and a landscape more commonly associated with steel expedition yachts than performance trimarans.
At this stage, we have no voyage report, no logs, and no direct account from the crew. Aldo and the crew are rightly focused on sailing and safety. What we are witnessing is simply what the camera shows: a Rapido trimaran in Antarctica.
Only two months ago, this same crew was sailing Picomole in the warmth of the Caribbean, taking Line Honours in the Multihull Division of ARC 2025 and placing 2nd Overall. To move from tropical trade winds to the hostile cold of the Southern Ocean in a single season speaks to ambition, preparation, and serious seamanship.
The Reality of the Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is widely regarded as one of the most demanding stretches of ocean on Earth. It’s the body of water between Cape Horn in Chile at the southern extreme of the South American mainland and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It lies in the path of uninterrupted westerly wind systems (the “Roaring Forties” and “Furious Fifties”) where low-pressure systems regularly generate gale-force winds and large, confused seas. These conditions are reinforced by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the most powerful ocean current on the planet, which keeps the sea state active even when winds temporarily ease.
For sailors, crossings here are not forced; they are carefully timed. Success depends on reading weather systems, selecting the right window, and moving efficiently through it before the next system arrives.
In this environment, the combination of skilled crew and a fast, highly responsive boat like the Rapido 53XS becomes significant. The ability to sail quickly, adjust course decisively, and stay within a favourable weather window is a practical advantage in these waters.
Ice and Vigilance Near the Peninsula
While wind and sea state define the Drake Passage, the nature of the hazards changes as a vessel approaches Antarctica.
Closer to the Peninsula, drifting ice, growlers and icebergs require constant lookout and disciplined navigation. Radar, visibility, and human vigilance are essential. The images we have received show Picomole operating in precisely this environment.
A Rare Sight in Polar Waters
The Antarctic Peninsula has traditionally been visited by heavy displacement monohulls and purpose-built expedition vessels. Seeing a performance cruising trimaran here is unusual not because it is impossible, but because it demands preparation, judgement, and confidence from those on board.
Whether this ultimately proves to be the first time a production cruising trimaran has reached shore in Antarctica will be confirmed in time. What is already clear is that Aldo and his crew have taken their boat far beyond typical cruising grounds.
Respect for What Is Still Ahead
As striking as these images are, this story is still unfolding.
The return crossing of the Drake Passage remains ahead of them. The same forces of wind, current, and sea state will require equal care and attention on the way north.
For now, we simply acknowledge what we can see: a skilled crew and a capable boat respecting the Southern Ocean.
When Aldo and his crew are safely back in warmer waters, we look forward to receiving and sharing the full account of this remarkable voyage.
Video above: Prior to the start of the ARC Rally 2025, Aldo Fumagalli spoke of his plans to sail Picomole to Antarctica on the Rapido 53XS, Picomole
Related Links
- Cruise ship trapped in heavy sea ice is rescued by US Coast Guard vessel near Antarctica, Fox News, 28 January 2026
- Rapido 53XS webpage
