The Italian sailing magazine Giornale della Vela has published a remarkable first-hand account by Aldo Fumagalli in which he describes his voyage to Antarctica, aboard the Rapido 53XS, Picomole.
After recently completing and winning the 2025 ARC Rally, Fumagalli and his experienced crew set their sights on one of sailing’s most demanding routes: the Drake Passage. With careful weather planning and disciplined seamanship, the team crossed the notorious stretch of water between Cape Horn and Antarctica before cruising among the glaciers and ice of the Antarctic Peninsula. In the process, it is believed that Picomole became the first cruising trimaran to cross the Drake Passage and sail to Antarctica.
In his article, Fumagalli recounts the unique mix of excitement, caution and awe that comes with sailing in one of the most remote environments on Earth, navigating their way through the ice while surrounded by spectacular Antarctic landscapes.
The story offers a unique perspective on taking a high-performance trimaran to the edge of the world.
- Read the full article by Aldo Fumagalli in Giornale della Vela, 10 February 2026, here.
Expedition Highlights
Boat: Rapido 53XS, Picomole
Owner / Skipper: Aldo Fumagalli
Crew: Aldo Fumagalli, Pietrino D’Alì, Gaetano Mura, Sami Alshukily, Luca Tausel, Marco Bolognese
Ice Captain: John (USA)Achievement: First cruising trimaran to cross the Drake Passage and sail to Antarctica
Destination: Melchior Islands, Antarctic Peninsula
Conditions in Drake Passage: Up to 45-knot gusts, 4 metre seas on the bow
Related Articles
- Picomole, the trimaran that sailed to Antarctica, Mary Nicholas, Multihulls World, 26 February 2026
- Crossing the Drake: Picomole Reaches Antarctica, Sail-World.com, 15 February 2026. This article also appeared in Yachts & Yachting.com
- Cutting edge technology for Rapido’s multihull design, Zuzana Prochazka, 23 March 2023, Sail Magazine.
- Triac Composites website. The Rapido 53XS is built by Triac Composites in Vietnam.
- Rapido 53XS information page
- Rapido Enquiries, email [email protected]
