For decades, offshore sailors have faced a familiar choice. Monohulls offer feel and responsiveness but demand that crews live with constant heel. Catamarans provide space and stability at anchor, yet many sailors feel disconnected from the sailing experience.

When Sailing La Vagabonde announced their decision  last month to commission a Rapido 60 as their next cruising yacht (Hull #04), sailors around the world took notice. The obvious question followed:

Why did one of the world’s most recognised cruising families choose a trimaran?

The answer lies not in marketing claims, but in the experiences of those already sailing them. Steve Bourne aboard Ineffable (Hull #01), Dougall and Jas Love aboard Romanza (Hull #02), and the extensive evaluation undertaken by Riley and Elayna Whitelum before ordering Hull #04 all point to the same conclusion.

Their combined experience reveals what happens when offshore performance, comfort and practical cruising design are brought together in a single platform.

Fast Passage Making Without the Drama

One of the defining characteristics of the Rapido 60 is its ability to maintain high average passage speeds without demanding extreme effort from the crew.

During their evaluation process, Riley and Elayna travelled to New Zealand to sail aboard Dougall and Jas Love’s Hull #02, Romanza. It did not take long for the boat to leave an impression.

“She goes at lightning speed,” Elayna recalled. “During the test sail, I was at the helm with one hand on the wheel and we were going 25.7 knots. It was fast and I was worried it would really heel over. But even at that speed, it was just slightly heeling over.”

For Riley, the attraction was not peak speed but average speed and safety offshore.

“25.7 knots. That’s extraordinarily fast. And that’s maintaining a speed, not surfing down waves. I’m much more interested in average crossing times. I want to be able to go at a good pace safely. It felt beyond comfortable. When we were doing 20 knots, it felt like we were only going 10.”

Steve Bourne’s experience aboard Hull #01, Ineffable, echoes that sentiment.

“You can do 60-mile trips in four hours averaging 15 knots. We did a nose dive into a huge wave and the hulls just popped out before we came out at the bottom doing 22 knots. No pitch-pole at all. It’s designed for forward buoyancy.”

That confidence comes from the design itself. The Rapido 60 develops approximately 55 tonnes of righting moment while maintaining exceptional buoyancy in the forward sections of the amas.

Steve recalls one occasion when an inexperienced helmsman was caught by a sudden gust.

“We had a 35-knot gust with main and jib up. He tried to bear away and the boat did a perfect quarter-circle into the wind. It really skids. The daggerboard and rudder are in the middle of the centre hull. If the hull lifts any distance, it simply slides sideways.”

For offshore sailors, that predictable behaviour matters every bit as much as speed.

Offshore Comfort That Changes Long Passages

Performance means little if the crew arrives exhausted.

One of the most consistent observations from Rapido owners is the motion of the boat offshore. Unlike a catamaran, where the hulls alternately lift and fall through ocean swells, the trimaran delivers a smoother, more predictable ride.

Jas Love experienced the difference first-hand aboard Hull #2, Romnza, during their Tasman crossings.

She found the motion significantly easier on the body than the quick side-to-side movements common on many cruising catamarans. Instead of constantly bracing herself or moving around at awkward angles, she could simply live aboard while underway.

The result was less fatigue and more enjoyment on long passages.

A Saloon Designed for Living

Step aboard Hull #02 and one of the biggest surprises is the volume inside.

When Riley Whitelum first stepped aboard, concerns about interior space disappeared almost immediately.

“The only thing I was worried about was the amount of space on board. I jumped onboard, ran around and I was like, ‘Ahhhhhh! This is perfectly fine!’ The forward cabin is massive with a huge bed. When you’re standing in the saloon, you’re actually standing in a huge room.”

The central saloon provides panoramic visibility while remaining protected from the elements, allowing crew to remain comfortable even when conditions deteriorate outside.

That comfort was put to the test during a demanding 230-nautical-mile winter race in New Zealand.

While crews aboard competing monohulls spent hours exposed to cold spray and heavy heel angles, the crew aboard Romanza remained sheltered in the wheelhouse, enjoying hot food (lamb shanks, no less) while maintaining double-digit speeds.

Engineering That Makes Sense at Sea

The confidence owners describe is built into the structure of the boat.

Constructed by Triac Composites using carbon-fibre foam-sandwich construction and multiple watertight compartments, the Rapido 60 is designed with exceptional reserve buoyancy and structural integrity.

Just as important is the concentration of weight in the centre hull.

The engine, tanks, batteries and anchor chain are all located close to the boat’s centre of gravity and aligned with the daggerboard. By avoiding unnecessary weight in the ends of the boat, pitching is reduced and balance is improved.

Steve Bourne sums it up simply:

“The true joy of the boat is that it sails like a very stable, level monohull. If you’re getting near the edge, the helm gets heavier so you have fair warning to depower. The jib is self-tacking. Gybing is easy. It sails like a monohull on steroids.”

Maintenance Matters

Life aboard is about more than sailing.

Unlike many yachts where routine servicing requires owners to crawl into cramped lockers, the Rapido 60 incorporates a genuine walk-in engine room.

Steve considers it one of the boat’s most underrated features.

“Recently, a mate who was helping his wife complete her Yachtmaster Offshore course asked if he could use the engine room—yes, room, not a cramped space—to teach her maintenance. They were there for the day. That says a lot about the access.”

Storage is equally practical.

The floats (amas) provide extensive dry storage for sails, spare parts and cruising equipment, while additional storage beneath the cockpit and saloon allows owners to carry the provisions required for serious passagemaking.

Dougall and Jas Love made full use of that capacity during their cruising voyages.

“The Tasman crossing on Romanza was very easy. There was more than enough storage room. We stored cruising gear, spares and equipment under the cockpit, and even carried a washing machine there which worked perfectly.”

What Owners Say After Thousands of Miles

The most compelling endorsement of the Rapido 60 comes from the people who sail them.

Hulls #01 and #02 have accumulated thousands of offshore miles. Their experiences were a significant factor in Sailing La Vagabonde’s decision to commission Hull #04.

Steve Bourne perhaps captures the appeal best:

“Upwind, you are usually sailing at wind speed. You sail at up to 15 degrees of heel, usually only five to ten degrees, and you’re flat on a mooring. It’s easy to cook while sailing and, in heavy conditions, your crew isn’t hanging on for dear life.

I recently sailed an 82-foot Swan and had completely forgotten how uncomfortable 35-plus degrees of heel can be. I remember sliding barefoot across the deck. Why put up with that?”

For sailors looking beyond the traditional compromises of monohulls and catamarans, the Rapido 60 offers a different approach.

One that is fast, comfortable and designed from the outset for serious offshore cruising.

Step Up to the Trimaran Standard

Ready to see what a Rapido 60 can do offshore?

Contact our team to request the full build specification, discuss upcoming production availability, or arrange a private viewing. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and connect you with current owners who are actively cruising their Rapidos around the world.

Fleet Configuration Note

The performance observations, owner experiences and handling characteristics discussed in this article are drawn from Hull #01 (Ineffable), Hull #02 (Romanza) and the extensive evaluation process that led to Sailing La Vagabonde commissioning Hull #04.

Hull #03 is intentionally excluded from this comparison. Although built on the Rapido 60 platform, it was developed for a completely different purpose. Configured as a commercial power trimaran, Hull #03 features a substantially modified coachroof and nacelle arrangement, with the beams moved aft to create a large single-level entertainment deck for high-capacity day-charter operations.

It is an impressive and highly successful commercial vessel, but it is not representative of the cruising-performance sailing trimaran configuration discussed throughout this article.

Related Posts

1. Rapido 60 #01 Owner Review: Why I Chose a Rapido Over a Monohull, by Steve Bourne
2. Romanza R60 #02, triumphs in 2020 Yates Cup, New Zealand
3. Ineffable’s Steve Bourne, R60 #01, “I’m a nutter for sailing”, reports Daily Herald
4. A girl’s first blue water crossing: The Tasman Sea on Romanza, R60 #02
5. Rapido 60 #02 Owner Review: What Would We Change After Crossing the Tasman Sea?
6. Sailing Ineffable, R60 #02, across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean, Part I, Part II and Part III