“ARC Europe 2025, 1st Leg: won by a Rapido trimaran by name and in fact”, Vela Magazine, May 2025.
Below is a translation of the original article.
It was the best among the boats that left for the ARC Europe, a west-to-east regatta that this year carries a fleet of 26 vessels from the Caribbean to Europe, crossing the Atlantic to the Azores: we are talking about the Rapido 53XS of Aldo Fumagalli.
The first leg of the ARC Europe, from St Maarten (Caribbean) to Bermuda, has concluded with the triumph of the Italian crew; the gap over the competitors was 230 miles out of a total of 870 miles.
‘The boat is starting to perform well,’ Aldo Fumagalli told us, ‘and in one day we covered 361 miles.’
The Rapido 53XS adopts the design of the Rapido 50-foot hull by Morrelli & Melvin, utilizing a fixed structure (i.e., non-foldable) with the addition of 800 kg of additional superstructure.
The aim of providing a spacious lounge, three comfortable cabins, and two bathrooms has been perfectly achieved: the difference in volume between the 50 and the 53XS (which stands for eXtra Space) is impressive.
The builder (Triac Composites) could have kept the main lines identical between the two hulls, but everything has been reviewed and improved on the 53XS: even the appendages have been completely revised.
Its draft, in fact, has been calculated so as not to exceed that of the central hull. Rather than a central keel, there are two C-shaped pre-impregnated carbon keels, one for each float (ama).
The same goes for the rudder; ie twin rudders (one on each float) eliminate the need for a centre rudder which facilitates access to shallow waters.
Notes
- For original article in Vela magazine (in Italian), click here.
- Header photo of crew taken prior to commencement of 1st Leg, by Diego Moreno
- Inset file photo of Rapido 53XS, Picomole in header photo: from Aegean 600 by Nikos Alevromytis
- Video of ARC Europe preparations by Diego Moreno
- For more information on Rapido 53XS, click here.
