Following the International Multihull Show in France, we are pleased to share a first look at the Rapido 40 Racer through this walkthrough video and article by Multihulls World magazine. In this feature, , dated 24 April 2026Ludovic Roussille explores the design philosophy behind a lightweight carbon trimaran built for uncompromising performance, combining speed, simplicity, and offshore capability.
Note, Video transcript further below.
Rapido 40 Racer. Performance Without Compromise
(Multihulls World magazine, by Ludovic Roussille, 24 April 2026) The standard (cruising) version of the Rapido 40 demonstrated impressive speed potential right from its first runs. This model, presented at the International Multihull Show at La Grande Motte in its Cruiser Performance version, was accompanied by a Racer example.
In the latter configuration, being unveiled to the public for the first time, the trimaran obviously retains the C-shaped foils and carbon rig, and it has an upwind sail area increased from 1,044 square feet to 1,211 (97 m² to 112.54). However, it is 0.7 to 1 ton lighter thanks to the absence of cruising gear and the lowering of the coachroof. The interior, which is relatively sparse, features a lowered deck to maintain as much volume as possible. The floats are particularly voluminous, obviously guaranteeing good strength. All these features could well make the Rapido 40 Racer the fastest 40-foot liveaboard multihull! In port, the floats fold inwards: the beam is reduced from 28’10” (8.8 m) at sea down to 17’1” (5.8 m).
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Rapido Trimarans
- Builder: Triac Composites Co. Ltd, Vietnam
- Architect: Morelli & Melvin
- Material: carbon
- Length: 39’6” (12.03 m)
- Beam: 19‘/28’10” (5.8/8.8 m)
- Draft: 22”/4’7” (0.56/1.4 m)
- Displacement: 9,920/11,465 lbs (4.5/5.2 t)
- Mainsail: 700/793 sq ft (65/73.64 m²)
- Solent: 345/419 sq ft (32/38.9 m²)
- Motor: 29HP
Transcript of Multihull World’s walk thorugh video of the Rapido 40 Race at the International Multihull Show, La Grande Mootte, France, April 2026.
Translation to English by Chat GPT
Hello, Ludovic for Multihulls World and Multicoques Mag. We are here in La Grande-Motte for the first day of the International Multihull Show, and I’m at the Rapido stand.
You may remember this one, the Rapido 40 Cruiser here in its performance version, which we have already presented to you.
This year, the shipyard has brought a world premiere to La Grande-Motte: the Rapido 40 Racer.
The idea behind this boat is not to offer a pure racing boat but one that can also be used for day sailing as well as transoceanic passages. It should be lighter than the cruising version and remain financially accessible both in terms of purchase price and maintenance costs.
So, we have a very simple, full-carbon boat, from the tip of the C-shaped foils… Here are the daggerboards, and you also have a small T-foil on the rudder on the stern.
All the way up to the masthead, everything is carbon, and everything is built in-house at Rapido’s yard in Vietnam, Triac Composites.
Let’s go take a look at the interior differences.
You’ll see that we are no longer in a cruising and high-comfort mindset, but rather something very functional and very lightweight.
So, even though the bulkheads on the cruiser were also made of carbon and were lightweight, here most of the interior fittings have been removed. We still find a small carbon galley worktop.
Here, the engine is positioned centrally. There you go, very accessible.
The rest of the technical area is here…, all the electrical systems. And just below, the diesel tanks and a portable watermaker, which you can remove if you’re racing just for the day and want to save even more weight.
The cooler is also removable. At the back, there is quite a lot of space with a double berth. And forward, a small head, a small sink and another double berth.
For those who remember the cruiser, there’s an extra step. The floor has been lowered to allow for a lower coachroof.
As a result, the Racer is between 700 kg and 1 tonne lighter than the Cruiser.
So, welcome to this new boat.
One last quick look. Definitely worth trying very soon.
See you soon!
