Rapido Trimarans is thrilled to confirm that Sailing La Vagabonde (SLV) will sail the world’s oceans aboard a Rapido 60!
In fact, SLV’s video announcing the decision to their 1.59 million subscribers (yes, 1.59m subscribers!) will go live live at 8.30am, Adelaide time in Australia (GMT/UTC +9:30) on 8 June 2021.
See the SLV video embedded below.
Welcome Riley, Elayna, Lenny +1 to the Rapido family!!! It is so good to have you on board!
Who is Sailing La Vagabonde?
SLV comprises an Australian couple, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu and their son, Lenny. Additionally – and literally – joining the team will be their new-born, any day from now!
Riley and Elayna’s job is to sail the world’s oceans and, each week, bring their adventures to our phones, desktops and iPads via You Tube.
They began documenting their evolving journey on You Tube back in 2014 with a single-hull vessel. After a time, they upgraded to a twin-hulled vessel and, for the last 18-24 months, have been researching which boat would become the future of their sailing story, and proudly wear the title Sailing La Vagabonde III.
As part of their exhaustive selection process, they travelled to New Zealand in December 2019 for a test sail aboard the Rapido 60, Romanza. Owners of Romanza Dougall and Jaz Love were there together with co founder of Rapido Trimarans, Paul Koch. Some photos from that trip are posted below.
Eventually, falling out of Riley and Elayna’s exhaustive selection process was a three-hulled 6o’ (18m) trimaran, the Rapido 60.
Riley and Elayna explain why they chose the Rapido 60 (comments from video above)
But now, let’s hear from Riley and Elayna as to why and how the Rapido 60 met their criteria:
Riley – Rapido offers sailing performance and space
I know that the Rapido sails unbelievably well which is the main thrust behind all of our decision making.
(When we went to New Zealand), I knew it was going to sail well. I knew it was beautiful. I knew it was very well made because I’ve got a lot of respect for the boat builders.
The only thing I was worried about was the amount of space on board.
I jumped onboard (Romanza), ran around and I was like, “Ahhhhhh!, this is perfectly fine!” (Later in video Riley describes the forward cabin as being “massive” with a “huge” bed. “When you’re standing in the saloon, you’re actually standing in a huge room.”)
Elayna – Lightning speed at 25.7 knots
She goes at lightning speed. During the test sail, I was at the helm with one hand on the helm and we were going at 25.7 knots! I think I got the top speed for the day!
Riley – Maintaining a speed
25.7 knots – that’s extraordinarily fast. (And) that’s maintaining a speed; not surfing down waves.
Elayna – Just slightly heeling over
That was constant 25.7. In fact I think it was 26.7 but just in case, I will say 25. There you go!
It was fast and I was worried it would really heel over. (But) even at that speed, it was just slightly heeling over.
Riley – I want to be able to go at a good pace safely
I’m much more interested in average crossing times. I mean it’s good fun to go fast but that’s the least important on my list of things. 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 – and it felt like we had so much more power just sitting there in reserve.
It felt like we were just ticking along and that is a nice feeling.
Elayna – Must be able to sail it single-handed
One thing that was really important for us with the trimaran was that Riley will have the ability to sail it single-handed because we will have two kids on the boat.
Riley – I’m not going…
I’m not going on a boat that I cannot single-hand.
Riley – Selecting a boat
In the end, it came down to what we really want to be on and what we think you guys (our viewers) want to see us sailing on.
This is so exciting.
And, I think, new.
Comment from Rapido Trimarans
As mentioned above, Rapido with Sailing La Vagabonde’s decision to explore the world on a Rapido 60, the Queen of the Oceans.
Elayna and Riley love the boat and also believe that it’s what “we think you guys (SLV’s 1.59 million viewers) want to see us sailing on”.
Dougall Love, co owner of Rapido 60, Romanza, once remarked that he believed the qualities found in the Rapido represent the “the future of sailing”.
With the extraordinary reach and exposure of Sailing La Vagabonde, perhaps the future is now a lot closer than many would have thought possible!
Post from the Sailing La Vagabonde website [7 June 2021]
We’re. So. Excited. We’ve been exploding waiting to tell you the massive news now that it’s official: LA VAGA III has begun.
It’s been a real labour of love to find our new home. It’s something that we’re really looking forward to and something we’re really confident we’re gonna love. We want to take you inside our new home, what it looks like…. hypothetically.
Yes, we haven’t built it yet, so this is as big a journey as ever for us. It’s clean and green, it’s a super stable and fast trimaran that we’ve always dreamed of.
As our family is getting bigger, these things have got that all-important storm-dodging speed and an insane level of stability.
The guys at rapidotrimarans.com really know what they’re doing with these beautiful boats and we’re so glad to be with them.
- If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Patreon of Sailing La Vagabonde, click here.
Video below: Riley describes his ideas of a “good and safe multihull sailing philosophy” and how to apply them when selecting a boat that is right for you.
Related websites for Sailing La Vagabonde (SLV)
- Sailing La Vagabonde explain their multihull criteria, by Toby Hodges, Yachting World, 12 February 2021 (this article was published prior to SLV announcing their decision to ‘go with Rapido’).
- SLV’s You Tube channel
- SLV’s Facebook page
- Elayna Carausu’s Instagram page
- Riley Whitelum’s Instagram page
- Rapido Trimarans’ You Tube page
