The 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, Morrelli & Melvin have ensured that the DNA of the Rapido 60 has been incorporated into the all carbon and folding Rapido 40. Expect a state of the art trimaran designed and built for:

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

The Rapido 40 is designed and engineered as a high tech, all-carbon, performance cruiser with a self-tacking jib, carbon spreaderless mast and an option for rolling furl boom.

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

While others are compelled to motor away from any 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 numerous watertight bulkheads and bulkheads with no through penetrations below the water line. 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), dagger C foils, rudders, beams, chainplate bulkheads, folding struts, pulpits, seats, drawers for galley, table and benchtop in galley.

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

The Rapido 40 is being 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 will give the Rapido 40 more lift than usual resulting in 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 will capture the interest of this segment for the following reasons:

• The boat has pedigree being designed and engineered by the world's best, Morrelli and Melvin, in the US.
• Lighter
• Faster
• All carbon construction
• “C" foil daggerboards (see below)
• Easier and safer to handle with self-tacking jib, roller furler head sails and spreaderless mast
• CE A Certification for safer ocean crossings
• Better weight distribution with heavy items (eg engine) in the middle of the boat
• Functional interior, more spacious (eg C foils removed the need for a centre daggerboard), raised saloon (ie, it is not located down in the hull) and finished to a high standards

[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: infused carbon foam sandwich construction with beams, daggerboards, ruddercase and blade made from prepreg carbon and cured in autoclave, carbon mast spreaderless, carbon counter tops, self tacking solent/ jib

• Two separate double cabins

• Folding floats (reduced fees for marina, hard stand and shipping). See more below!

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!

A FOLDING MECHANISM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Floats on the Rapido 40 remain in upright position during and at completion of folding process.

The performance of trimarans is well documented.

In fact, some say that the only thing better than a trimaran is a folding trimaran. And here, the Rapido 40's patented folding system excels, as shown below:

Folding floats:

• Access to single marina berths
• Access to all marinas
• Reduced marina, hard stand and shipping costs
• Floats are kept in upright position (preventing barnacle and/or algae growth on sides of floats)
• Remaining in the upright position, stability of trimaran is maintained during folding and while in the folded position.

Folding mechanism:

• High tech design by Morrelli & Melvin (to see some of the high tech tools that Morrelli & Melvin use during the design phase, click here).
• Patented Design (concept by Paul Koch, Australia Patent Application No. 2019902014)
• Wa5tch the video below of the folding mechanism on the Rapido 50.

Further details

• Email co founder, Paul Koch