Discover the all-carbon, folding, Rapido 40: “SAIL Top 10 Best Boats 2024" nominee.

Specifications

* Please note, General Specifications are subject to change and should be confirmed with Rapido Trimarans Limited.

General Specifications

  • LOA: 12.03m (39' 6")
  • LWL: 12.00m (39' 4")
  • BOA: 8.80m (28' 10")
  • BOA (folded, non canting): 5.8m (19' 3")
  • BOA (float to float CL): 7.98m (26' 2")
  • Average light displacement (subject to final options): 5,200kgs (11,474lbs)
  • Freeboard: 1.41m (4' 8")
  • Daggerfoil up: 0.87m (2' 10")
  • Daggerfoil down: 2.18m (7' 2")
  • Engine: Yanmar diesel, 3YM30AE, 29hp, shaft drive
  • Oceanvolt Option #01: Twin propulsion
  • Oceanvolt Option #02: Two single ServoProps

Download General Specifications

  • Click here for General Specifications (dated 17 Oct 2023). Please note, General Specifications are subject to change. All specifications must be confirmed in writing by Rapido Trimarans at the time of contract signing.

Standard Carbon Rig

  • Standard Mast Length Max: 17.2m (56' 5")
  • Rig height above DWL: 19.2m (63')

In the USA the standard rig fits under all bridges in intracoastal waterways.

Standard Sails Platform

  • SA Main: 65m2 (700sqf) (Wing mast area, 7.0m2 (75sqf)
  • Jib / Solent: 32m2 (344sqf)
  • SA Staysail: 13m2 (140sqf)
  • SA Reacher: 113m2 (1,216sqf)
  • SA Asym Spin: 158m2 (1,700sqf)
    * Click here to download sails plan (9 May 2023).

Performance Carbon Rig

  • Performance rig length: 19.5m (64')
  • Rig height above DWL: 21.8m (71' 6")
  • Sizes of sails: TBC

General Information

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

Rapido 40

[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

Co founder Paul Koch is 6'3

[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. 

Watertight bulkheads
Watertight bulkheads

Further details

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 40 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 gliding over a reef. You will be instantly hooked..

look inside the

RAPIDO 40 IN ACTION

 Trimarans in the media

Below is a list of articles which have appeared in various publications regarding Rapido Trimarans.

  1. C-foils on a fast cruising trimaran? This looks rapid!, Rapido 40 tour, Yachting World magazine video by Toby Hodges, 8 September 2023
  2. Rapido 40: The Alternative Trimaran, by François-Xavier de Crécy with photos by Ludovic Fruchaud, LE MONDE DU MULTICOQUE #24 by Voile Magazine. July, 2024.
  3. The Rapido 40 is a 20 knot cruising tri, George Day, Cruising Compass, 24 May, 2023
  4. Boat Review of Rapido 40, Zuzana Prochazka, Sail Magazine, 4 May 2023
  5. Rapido 40: ultra fast cruising in complete safety on three hulls, Maxime Leriche, SailboatNews.com, 25 April 2023
  6. Boat anomaly: Rapido 40 Trimaran, No Frills Sailing, 19 April 2023
  7. Rapido 40 – Fast, foldable and worry free!, Multihulls World magazine, No. 189, May-July 2023
  8. Shipyard Focus: Rapido Trimarans, by Kevin Green, Multihulls World, August / September 2022.
  9. Rapido, changing the game, by Zuzana Prochazka, Sail Magazine, 23 March, 2022
  10. Rapido 40: A livable sailboat for cruising on 3 hulls, Briag Merlet, Sailboat News, 23 February 2022.
  11. Rapido, changing the game, (takes a detailed look at the cutting edge design and technology of Morrelli & Melvin) by Zuzana Prochazka, Multihull Sailor, December 2021
  12. Boat Review: Rapido 50, Kevin Green, Boating New Zealand, November 2021
  13. Harnessing Speed, by Kevin Green, Boating New Zealand, November 2021
  14. Rapido 60 Trimaran Boat Review: A Bold Gamechanger For Performance Bluewater Cruising, by Zuzana Prochazka, Yacht World, 23 September, 2021.
  15. Harnessing the wind, by Kevin Green, Multihulls World, September / October 2021 issue, 6 page spread on Rapido Trimarans.
  16. Sailing La Vagabonde choose Rapido 60 to sail world’s oceans, video announcement by SLV to their 1.59 million subscribers, You Tube, 8 June 2021
  17. The Ultimate Racer-Cruiser: Clients on Romanza are turning heads on the racetrack when they're not cruising at high speed, North Sails, 19 April, 2021
  18. Making Short-handed Short Work – Onboard Rapido 60, Anna Merchant, Sail-World, 11 February 2021
  19. Rapido 50 News from the Shipyards, Multihulls World, 2 February 2021
  20. Buyers' Guide 2021, Rapido 50, Multihulls World, 18 December 2020
  21. “New breed” Rapido 40 & 50, Yachting World magazine, November 2020
  22. Cruising Helmsman reviews Rapido 60, October 2020
  23. Romanza takes top spot in Yates Cup, SEA Yachting magazine, September 2020
  24. Rapido Trimarans relocates production arm into Vietnam, SEA Yachting magazine, Nov/Dec 2019.
  25. Rapido Trimarans, On the March, Seahorse Magazine, October 2019.
  26. (French) Rapido 40, un trimaran repliable de 12 m, Bateaux.com, 29 August 2019.
  27. Rapido 60 – The most exciting production multihull in the world? (or click here for selection of quotes), Multihulls Magazine, Summer (July) 2019.
  28. Rapido, Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, June 2019 (pp23-24)
  29. Ineffable’s Steve Bourne: I’m a nutter for sailing, Daily Herald, 26 February 2019.
  30. Rapido 60′ the fastest production multihull in the world?, International Multihulls World, December 2017
  31. RAPIDO 60’ : Le multicoque de série habitable le plus rapide du monde?, Multihulls World, 23 November 2017
  32. Finding Mrs Right, Boating New Zealand, August 2016
  33. Blue Water Cruising Trimaran, Australian Multihulls World, August 2016
  34. Rapido 60, Cruising World, 25 August, 2016
  35. Rapido 60, by Emma Bamford, Sailing Today.