The concept wasn’t invented by NEEL though: the trimarans designed by Arthur Piver and built mainly in the UK in the 1960s/1970s already featured an extra-wide nacelle... The Rapido 50XS takes the Morrelli & Melvin hull design of the “classic” 50, using a fixed structure (i.e. not foldable) with an added 1,760 lbs (800 kg) of extra superstructure. The aim is to offer 3 comfortable cabins and two bathrooms. The manufacturer could have stuck to this concession to comfort... but no, the appendages have also been completely revised. Two C-shaped daggerboards built in prepreg carbon - one on each float - replace the central daggerboard, offering increased space in the saloon and a 360-degree view. As for the 50's fixed central rudder, it gives way to two fixed spade rudders (again in prepreg carbon), one on each float hull. The draft of the appendages has been calculated so as not to exceed that of the central hull.
Builder: Rapido Trimarans
Hull length: 50’ (15.2 m)
Waterline length: 50’ (15.2 m)
Beam: 34’ (10.36 m)
Draft: 2.2’ (0.67 m)/11.5’ (3.52 m)
Light displacement: 20,613lbs (9.35 t)
Air draft: 85’ (25.86 m)
Mainsail: 1,259 sq ft (117 m²)
Solent: 786 sq ft (73 m²)
Stay-sail: 268 sq ft (25 m²)
Gennaker: 1,615 sq ft (150 m²)
Spinnaker: 2,476 sq ft (230 m²)
Price: $1,750,000 ex-tax
