trimarano carrellabile

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Trimaran Sailboats: Pros and Cons

Sep 22, 2021

less than a min

Trimarans are boats in the multihull category. So let us give you a simple overview. A monohull has just one hull, a catamaran is a boat with two hulls, while a trimaran as the name itself suggests, has three hulls ( one central hull and two side ones that are smaller ).

There are many reasons why people prefer trimarans to other boats. These vessels are very easy to maneuver and quite light compared to catamarans or monohulls. They are often considered as an advanced form of the catamaran. The reason being, trimarans are faster than the average catamaran and obviously faster than monohulls. 

In addition, trimarans are much more stable than the alternative. The three hulls provide extra balance and lower resistance because even if there are three hulls in a trimaran, they are smaller and narrower. Lower resistance also leads to lower fuel consumption. 

Trimarans are very comfortable to sail in as the main hull is stabilized by the two outer hulls . 

Also, if you enjoy spending more time outdoors rather than indoors (which is usually the case for people who like sailing), trimarans offer more deck area that you can utilize. Whether for meditation, or social gatherings, this space offers plenty of breathtaking views and fresh air. 

Let’s not forget that trimarans have smaller gaps in between the hulls which makes them easier to build and therefore less expensive for the public to buy. 

This article however is titled trimarans pros and cons, so it is time to move into some less appealing characteristics of these vessels. 

While they offer plenty of deck space, the area below the main deck is limited, therefore you cannot have as many people on board as you would in a monohull or even a catamaran. 

In addition, trimarans are not appropriate for every type of activity. If you want to use it for recreational sailing then these boats will provide plenty of enjoyment. If your scope is to find something for the military or fishing, trimarans are not often the best choice. 

If you have your mind set on a specific trimaran, search it on TheBoatDB . Our extensive database includes features, pictures, specifications, and more useful information on a variety of boats. What is most interesting however is that you can also compare a couple of models side by side and decide which one is your favorite by getting all your facts straight. 

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Marlin 33 trimaran, multiscafo carrellabile

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Dragonfly 28, trimarano carrellabile

Nato da un sogno del designer danese Jens Quorning che, in collaborazione con Steen Olsen, ha trasformato in progetto la sua idea, Dragonfly è un trimarano carrellabile con cinque posti letto e una dinette che ospita otto persone.

La caratteristica più innovativa è il sistema Swingwing che consente di diminuirne la larghezza avvicinando gli scafi laterali a quello centrale grazie alla rotazione delle barre che li collegano.

Per vedere come funziona in pratica vi consigliamo di guardare il video sul sito internet del cantiere.

E’ disponibile in versione Sport e Touring ed è offerto sul mercato tedesco a partire da 105.900 euro vele incluse.

Dati: lunghezza f.t. m 8,75; larghezza m 2,54; immersione cm 40; motore  potenza max cv 15 http://www.dragonfly.dk/

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Carrellabili – Tricat 20

Il Tricat 20 è un trimarano inaffondabile e carrellabile prodotto dall’omonimo cantiere bretone. Il prezzo di lancio è di poco meno di 34.000 Euro e verrà presentato al Boot di Düsseldorf nel gennaio 2018.

TRICAT-20_3D-2-1024x561

Nel Tricat 20 trovano spazio due persone adulte nella cuccetta a V di prua e due bambini nelle laterali a murata.

Architecte: Antoine HOUDET / Jack Michal Chantier: TRICAT Construction: Infusion polyester Pays: France Système de pliage: Pivotement sur l’arrière Longueur: 5.99 m Largeur déplié / replié: 4.50m / 2.40m Déplacement lège: 520 Kg Tirant d’eau: 0.30m / 1.20m Motorisation: 3.5 CV Homologation: Categorie C Transportable: Oui

Plan de Voilure

Surface Grand-voile: 16.5 m² Surface foc: 9 m² Surface gennaker: 16 m² Surface spinnaker: 34 m²

Info su www.trimaran-tricat.com

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Comparing trimarans & catamarans.

Trimarans tend to be more performance oriented than catamarans. In part, this is because it’s easier to design a folding trimaran, and as a result Farrier, Corsair, and Dragonfly trimarans had a disproportionate share of the market.

In spite of this and in spite of the fact that many are raced aggressively in windy conditions, capsizes are few, certainly fewer than in equivalent performance catamaran classes.  But when they do go over, they do so in different ways.

Trimarans have greater beam than catamarans, making them considerably more resistant to capsize by wind alone, whether gusts or sustained wind. They heel sooner and more than catamaran, giving more warning that they are over powered. 

Waves are a different matter. The amas are generally much finer, designed for low resistance when sailing deeply immersed to windward. As a result, trimarans are more susceptible to broach and capsize when broad reaching at high speed or when caught on the beam by a large breaking wave.

In the first case, the boat is sailing fast and overtaking waves. You surf down a nice steep one, into the backside of the next one, the ama buries up to the beam and the boat slows down. The apparent wind increases, the following wave lifts the transom, and the boat slews into a broach. If all sail is instantly eased, the boat will generally come back down, even from scary levels of heel, but not always.

In the second case a large wave breaks under the boat, pulling the leeward ama down and rolling the boat. Catamarans, on the other hand, are more likely to slide sideways when hit by a breaking wave, particularly if the keels are shallow (or raised in the case of daggerboards), because the hulls are too big to be forced under. They simply get dragged to leeward, alerting the crew that it is time to start bearing off the wind.

Another place the numbers leave us short is ama design. In the 70s and 80s, most catamarans were designed with considerable flare in the bow, like other boats of the period. This will keep the bow from burying, right? Nope. When a hull is skinny it can always be driven through a wave, and wide flare causes a rapid increase in drag once submerged, causing the boat to slow and possibly pitchpole.

Hobie Cat sailors know this well. More modern designs either eliminate or minimize this flare, making for more predictable behavior in rough conditions. A classic case is the evolution of Ian Farrier’s designs from bows that flare above the waterline to a wave-piercing shape with little flare, no deck flange, increased forward volume, and reduced rocker (see photos page 18). After more than two decades of designing multihulls, Farrier saw clear advantages of the new bow form. The F-22 is a little faster, but more importantly, it is less prone to broach or pitchpole, allowing it to be driven harder.

Beam and Stability

The stability index goes up with beam. Why isn’t more beam always better? Because as beam increases, a pitchpole off the wind becomes more likely, both under sail and under bare poles. (The optimum length-to-beam ratios is 1.7:1 – 2.2:1 for cats and 1.2:1-1.8:1 for trimarans.) Again, hull shape and buoyancy also play critical roles in averting a pitchpole, so beam alone shouldn’t be regarded as a determining factor.

Drogues and Chutes

While monohull sailors circle the globe without ever needing their drogues and sea anchors, multihulls are more likely to use them. In part, this is because strategies such as heaving to and lying a hull don’t work for multihulls. Moderate beam seas cause an uncomfortable snap-roll, and sailing or laying ahull in a multihull is poor seamanship in beam seas.

Fortunately, drogues work better with multihulls. The boats are lighter, reducing loads. They rise over the waves, like a raft. Dangerous surfing, and the risk of pitchpole and broach that comes with it, is eliminated.  There’s no deep keel to trip over to the side and the broad beam increases the lever arm, reducing yawing to a bare minimum. 

Speed-limiting drogues are often used by delivery skippers simply to ease the motion and take some work off the autopilot. By keeping her head down, a wind-only capsize becomes extremely unlikely, and rolling stops, making for an easy ride. A properly sized drogue will keep her moving at 4-6 knots, but will not allow surfing, and by extension, pitch poling. 

For more information on speed limiting drogues, see “ How Much Drag is a Drogue? ” PS , September 2016.

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Il trimarano è composto da tre scafi, due scafi laterali, chiamati ama in lingua Tamil, ed uno centrale, chiamato vaka, collegati assieme da appositi bracci. Le dimensioni della chiglia centrale, rispetto a quelle laterali permette al trimarano di godere di grande stabilità, più di quella dei catamarani, mentre i bracci laterali, grazie alla capacità galleggiante, mantengono in costante assetto la barca a vela, assicurando una stabilità trasversale del mezzo.

A differenza delle imbarcazioni a vela monoscafo, il trimarano manca di zavorra, il peso è caricato sui galleggianti laterali ed è costruito con materiali leggeri, perciò, il trimarano a vela offre prestazioni migliori delle barche classiche a vela. Molto raramente un trimarano scuffia, capita solo se mal gestito o se in condizioni meteo non favorevoli.

Fino ad oggi il trimarano, grazie alle velocità elevate che può raggiungere, è stato quasi esclusivamente un oggetto da gara, da regata o da grandi record, come Maserati di Giovanni Soldini e i maxi trimarani come Edmond De Rotschild.

Le innovazioni nel campo di queste imbarcazioni non mancano e si stanno sviluppando sempre di più trimarani più piccoli, addirittura carrellabili, adatti alla crociera, senza però togliere niente alle prestazioni ed al divertimento.

16 Best Trimarans For Sailing Around The World (And a Few For Daysailing)

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Trimarans are growing in popularity worldwide, due to their light construction and high stability these multihulls are even faster than catamarans. Trimarans are still one of the lesser-known boat types so in this article ill be checking out some of the most popular models.

The best trimarans include: 

• The Neel 43 
• The Neel 47 
• Dragonfly 28 
• The Pulse 600 
• Corsair 37 

These tris are built with your safety in mind while also packing powerful speed and a wide array of comfort features to optimize your sailing experience , some are even foldable making them possible to load on a trailer and transport to the sailing destination of your choosing.

In this article, I have created a list of the 16 best trimarans in the market and their unique features. You’ll also learn the best options for different purposes such as circumnavigation, weekend sailing, racing, and more. 

Table of Contents

What Is a Trimaran?

A trimaran is a multi hulled sailboat with three individual hulls; the main hull ( vaka ) and a pair of outrigger hulls ( amas ). These smaller outrigger hulls are attached to the main hull using beams. 

While trimarans have a rich history dating back nearly four millennia, these types of sailboats have only gained popularity in the late 1900s and early 2000s. 

Trimarans are primarily used as personal boats for sailing enthusiasts or racing. These sailboats draw their versatility from their lightweight design, making them faster and easier to handle at sea when compared to single-hulled boats (monohulls). Additionally, the three hulls also contribute to better stability, making it very hard to capsize (although more likely than a cat according to this study)

Trimarans come in various sizes, and some can be as small as 19 feet (5.8 meters) in length, while others go up to 60 feet (18meters). They’re also used for different purposes. Most trimarans are used for racing and recreational purposes, although some units are still used as ferries.

As with all things, to find out which is the best we need to understand what it will be used for. There is a big difference in requirements between a boat used for day sailing compared to offshore around the world sailing.

The list below highlights the best trimarans for different purposes.

Best Trimarans For Cruising, Liveaboard and Sailing Around The World

The Neel 43 is a French trimaran best suited for cruising. Its key features include: 

• Easy maneuverability on the open sea by only a small number of crew members 

This unit is also built for comfort, ideal for more extended travels. This 43-feet (13-meter) trimaran is also made with recyclable and bio-sourced materials, highlighting the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental consciousness. 

This trimaran has a base price of  €329,000 excluding VAT. This translates to approximately $370,138. 

2.Neel 47 Possibly The Best

Named the best full-size multihull for 2020, the Neel 47 is a strong contender for one of the best trimarans in the market. This 47-foot (14.3-meter) long trimaran features optimized exterior and interior ergonomics for a unique design and look. 

Still on design, the Neel 47 is ideal for couples looking to take a weekend off or spend some time as liveaboard. It has a spacious owner’s cabin and two bedrooms. It also features a spacious living room and kitchen and is optimized to ensure comfort for a couple. 

The Neel 47 also has two basic guest cabins so your friends or children can tag along on your sailing adventure. Accordingly, this unit is ideal for those looking to explore the sea for the sheer joy of sailing. 

The Neel 47 comes at a 571,139 euro ( $643,600 ) price tag, excluding VAT. 

3. Rapido 60 The Fast and Comfortable Circumnavigator

The Rapido 60 offers a blend of performance, safety, and luxury, making it one of the best options for bluewater sailing. Measuring 59.3 feet (18 meters) in length, the Rapido 60 is an imposing unit. It’s made from lightweight sandwiches and carbon materials that provide speed and strength, allowing it to stand up to strong ocean currents. 

The Rapido 60 also has spacious living spaces and is built for comfort at all points of the sail. Its design also optimizes safety. While it’s an ideal option for circumnavigating, it’s also an excellent choice for racing due to its speed. 

This is also the same boat that The Youtube channel La Vagabond just purchased.

The Rapido 60 retails at $1,400,000 . 

4. Rapido 40

The Rapido 40 measures 39.4 feet (12 meters) in length and is ideal for cruising around the world. The Rapido 40 features twin “C” foils, which provide added lift, enhancing its speed and performance whether you are sailing downwind or upwind. 

Because it has C foils, this trimaran doesn’t have a central daggerboard, increasing interior space. Accordingly, it’s an excellent option for couples looking to cruise and enjoy great performances .

The Rapido 40 is made from high-tech all-carbon materials for a lightweight yet sturdy design. This material is also used for the countertops and furniture, and the cork flooring adds a touch of style.

This trimaran retails for $595,000 , making it a cheaper option than the Rapido 60. 

5. Dragonfly 40

The Dragonfly 40 measures 40 feet (12 meters) in length. It features high-comfort standards, making it one of the best trimarans in the market for taking your family for a cruise. Because of its larger size, it has a better capacity, being capable of accommodating six to eight people, so you can bring your family and friends along. 

It’s easy to navigate and extremely safe. With a maximum speed of 24 knots (44.5 km/h), this trimaran also provides fast speeds to make your cruise even more exhilarating. 

The Dragonfly 40 retails from €509,000 exclusive of VAT, which rounds up to $572,000 . 

6. Dragonfly 32

The Dragonfly 32 is a high-performance cruiser. Like the Dragonfly 28, this unit features a contemporary design for racing. This trimaran can accommodate five to seven crew members. 

Although slightly longer than the Dragonfly 28 with its 32-foot (9.8-meter) length, the Dragonfly 32 has a max speed of 23+ knots (42.6+ km/h), making it one of the fastest trimarans for racing. This unit also has comfortable accommodation, which makes it an ideal option for a weekend cruise with family and friends. 

The Dragonfly 32 has a base price of $350,000 . 

7. Corsair 37

Thanks to a variable draft with a retractable rudder, the Corsair 37 is an ideal choice for shallow water exploration. This 37-foot (11.3-meter) long trimaran features advanced foam-cored construction designed for safety, making it virtually unsinkable. 

The carbon hulls minimize weight, this makes for a lightweight ocean exploration sailboat with blistering speeds. One of its selling points is that this trimaran has previously been used for Arctic expeditions, possibly marking it as one of the better options for circumnavigation and offshore sailing in the northern waters. 

This trimaran has a base price of $189,000 but can go up to $204,125 .

Best Trimarans For Day/Weekend Sailing

8. dragonfly 28.

The Dragonfly 28 is a 28-feet (8.75-meter) long sailboat that can accommodate up to five people. It comes in two versions: 

• Touring version: This version is ideal for families.  
• Performance version: This is built to provide optimal performance for the sports enthusiast within you. 

It clocks a maximum speed of 22+ knots (22+ km/h) and is beam-folded. It’s an excellent option if you want a high-performance, comfortable yet smaller unit for your day or weekend cruise. 

The Dragonfly 28 starts at  €188,280 inclusive of VAT, which comes to around $211,600. 

9. Dragonfly 25

Like other trimarans under the Dragonfly brand, this 25-foot (7.62-meter) trimaran is great for both racing and short term cruising. However, this high-performance boat delivers easy handling, making it perfect for couples looking to take a ride out over the weekend and seasoned sailors looking for an exhilarating racing adventure. 

The Touring version features a lightweight build and offers comfort and accommodation to keep you, and the few guests you can fit, comfortable during the ride. This trimaran also has a Sport version, which is optimized for racing. 

The Dragonfly 25 retails from EUR 86,800 . 

10. Pulse 600

The Pulse 600 trimaran is a compact sailboat. It’s made from lightweight, carbon-reinforced construction and vacuum-formed materials for optimal speed. This trimaran is an ideal option if you are looking for speed. 

It also features ample deck space, greater stability, and volume than most trimarans of similar size and build. 

This trimaran measures 19.8 feet (6 meters) in length and can be sailed single-handedly by one person with minimal effort. The Pulse 600 has a base price of $38,800 , which places it in the lower price range. 

The F-22 is one of the smaller trimarans in the market. Developed in New Zealand, the F-22 is a folding trimaran built for speed. The hulls are made from narrow fiberglass tied together using fiberglass beams and aluminum, minimizing bulk while optimizing speed. 

The F-22 is roomy and is not as pricey as other models in the market. This trimaran has two main versions: 

12. 2019 Weta Trimaran

The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made from fiberglass and foam. The Weta is built for strength and speed based on these lightweight materials. 

The 2019 Weta trimaran is easy to sail and is worth considering whether you want to take a quiet sail, race with your friends, or take kids to a sailing lesson. It has a simple design and is easy to set up independently. Thanks to its collapsible design, this trimaran is easily stored away with minimal space demands. 

13. WindRider 17

The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market. It packs high performance for a low cost. This trimaran has a light rotating mast to boost performance, and a full-battened mainsail optimizes visibility. 

This sailboat is made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is more durable than fiberglass and demands less maintenance.

The WindRider 17 has a comfortable interior and can fit six adults. This is an ideal choice for social sailing for a couple or a family and friends. It’s easy to ride, and a shallow draft allows easy maneuverability. 

14. Astus 22.5

If you’re looking for something small but still comfortable, this 22.5-foot trimaran is for you. Built for speed and maneuverability, the Astus 22.5 has optional foils to optimize speed. The modern design, coupled with the spacious interior, can fit up to four beds. Accordingly, this trimaran is suited for family outings. 

This trimaran also has a foldable design, collapsing to only 16 feet (4.9 meters) for easy storage. 

15. Multi 23 Trimaran 

The Multi 23 trimaran has a contemporary design, featuring a vinyl ester and PVC foam core construction. The section below the waterline is made of solid glass for a sturdy base.

The beams are made of lightweight carbon, and the trimaran features a 33-foot (10-meter) aluminum rotating wing mast for optimal harnessing of the wind. While ideal for weekend excursions with family, once rigged with the asymmetrical spinnaker will get your heart pumping.

This trimaran packs high performance at a lower cost than most other options in the market. It’s a good choice if you are looking for a high-performing unit without spending an arm and a leg. 

16. Challenger Class Trimaran

The Challenger Trimaran 15 is the best choice for persons with disabilities. It’s designed to provide disabled sailors an opportunity to explore their passion for sailing without worrying about aspects like safety or operation. 

A man named Geoff Hold circumnavigated the British Isles in 2007, becoming the first disabled person to achieve this feat. He had quadriplegia. 

Living up to its name, the Challenger can withstand harsh weather conditions while blending performance with speed. 

Final Thoughts 

Admittedly, no trimaran is best for everyone. But whether you are looking to race with your friends, take your loved ones or friends for a cruise over the weekend, or circumnavigate the ocean, you can rest assured that these lightweight trimarans will deliver speed, safety, and comfort to make it worth your while. 

These brands are innovatively designed and feature intricate safety mechanisms that make them virtually unsinkable. Give them a shot and begin your ocean adventure. 

• Basco Boating: A Comprehensive Guide & Introduction to Trimaran Yachts
• TheBoatAPP: New Trumarans: Which are the Best Ones
• Corsair Marine: Corsair 37
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 28
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 60
• Neel Trimarans: Neel 43
• Yachting World: World’s Collect Yachts: Maxi Trimaran MACIF
• Yachting Monthly: Dragonfly 28 Performance
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 40
• Dragonfly: Dragon 32
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 40
• Yachting World: Dragonfly 40 yacht tour: This cruising trimaran can do 24 knots
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 25
• NauticExpo: Dragonfly 25
• Yachtworld: Corsair 37 boats for sale
• Cruising World: Neel 47 Trimaran: Best Full-Size Multihull0
• Neel Trimaran: Neel 47
• Multihull Solutions: NEEL 47 Boat Review | Cruising World
• Yacht World: 2022 Neel 47 for sale
• Farrier International: F-22
• Weta Marine: The Boat
• WindRider: WindRider 17 Trimaran Sailboat 
• Astus Boats: Astus 22.5
• Boat-specs: Multi 23
• National Maritime Museum Cornwall: Challenger Trimaran #1 – BC26

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their "home marina" and sailing will be somewhat...

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Yachting World

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Beached, abandoned mid-ocean, capsized… Acapella, the invincible little yellow trimaran

• Helen Fretter
• February 26, 2018

A Capella is an iconic 37-year-old trimaran that has been abandoned and rebuilt three times, but will line up for the start of this year’s Route du Rhum solo transatlantic race

They say a cat has nine lives, A Capella is a trimaran which seems to have twice as many, writes Andi Robertson .

Next year the Route du Rhum, the storied French solo race from St Malo to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Part of the magic of this November 2018 edition will be a widely anticipated friendly showdown between three Walter Greene 12m (36ft) trimarans. The trio are near-sisterships to the tiny Olympus Photo that won the first ever Route du Rhum in 1978.

When skipper Mike Birch and the seemingly diminutive trimaran stole victory on the finish line by 98 seconds from under the nose of Michael Malinovski’s much fancied 21m monohull Kriter V , after 23 days of racing, it ensured the Route du Rhum would be forever synonymous with multihulls.

Acapella starting the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race ©Sportography

The 2018 race will be the sixth Rhum for Charlie Capelle’s faithful A Capella . A Capella (the name virtually homonymic with his surname Capelle, entirely coincidentally) is a remarkable trimaran which has refused to die, thanks to her faithful, deeply smitten owner.

Capelle’s personal association with the five-boat series of Acapella trimarans goes back to 1978 and Even Keel Road in Yarmouth, Maine, where Capelle learnt his craft boat building at the designer and builder Walter Greene’s yard. He has since worked on projects including Banque Populaire and Sodebo .

This particular A Capella was originally built for American sailor Spencer Merz as the third in the series after Birch’s Olympus , which was subsequently lost, and the second boat, Phil Steggall’s Friends and Lovers . In order to fund the boat, Merz chartered it to Philippe Poupon for the 1981 TwoSTAR race between Plymouth and Newport. Poupon went to Maine to see her, meeting up with Capelle then.

Capelle smiles at the still vivid memory, “Philou [Poupon] asked me to sail the boat back to Europe with him. Once back, Philou said ‘You might as well do the race with me.’ It was then I discovered a magical boat. Extraordinary. Intelligent. When I came back here, I set up my own yard.”

Acapella (the sister ship of Mike Birch famous Olympus) built by Walter Green in 1980 and skippered by Charlie Capelle, is preparing to take part in “La Route du Rhum” 2018 ©Christophe Launay

The automatic capsize system (ACS) is very simple. A pin keeps the sheets in two large Harken cam cleats. If the system detects a capsize then the pin is removed. It requires a certain amount of seamanship to set up the system and ensure that there are not too many wraps around the winch which the sheet needs to be released from. Or, if the sheets have been in place for some time, to make sure that salt has not encrusted them to such an extent that even when the system wants to release they stay stuck on the winch. As A Capella is smaller than IDEC, on which the system was developed, the movement of the yacht is such that the ACS can think a capsize is imminent when in fact it is not. Hence Capelle uses a ‘manual’ variant of the system, which works in the same way, except he has a button on a piece of string around his neck which fires the pin. ©Christophe Launay

Interior comforts are limited but stylish, with a custom-made chair, and original wooden fittings

The Acapella trimarans were designed and built as if to prove their strength, speed and longevity. Capelle recalls: “Walter Greene taught me how to build boats using moulded wood and epoxy with floats made of composites. There was a classic aluminium rig.

“What was interesting about these boats was that they were built with economy in mind in terms of the construction and fittings. They started to attract people. Mike won the 1978 Route du Rhum, proving that it was possible for a 38ft trimaran to cross the Atlantic and win races. All of today’s designers were impressed and influenced by the Acapella trimarans. These were pioneering boats and I just happened to be involved with them. Forty years on, I build boats and am lucky to be able to take part in races like the Route du Rhum and Fastnet.”

Chequered history

In 1982 A Capella did her first Route du Rhum sailed by Yves Le Cornec, who subsequently came up with the idea for the Trophée Jules Verne. He hit a wreck, the boat was disastrously dismasted and started sinking. She was beached near Brest in 1983.

“The guy who bought her from the insurance company contacted me as he couldn’t repair it by himself. He said I could buy the boat, but I didn’t have the money. A friend lent me the money to buy the wreck. I filled in all the holes down on the beach and rigged up some makeshift floats to sail her to La Trinité,” Capelle recalls.

“It took me seven years to restore her. I did it in my own time as I never wanted to mix my work at the yard with A Capella . It was always me alone working on the boat.”

The navstation is minimalist by modern ocean racing standards. Capelle will have a router for the Route du Rhum: the router’s job is not to give him the fastest route but rather the safest, keeping him away from larger swells and stronger winds. For Capelle the Rhum is an adventure and not a race, his aim is to prove to younger generations that it is still possible to sail competitively, enjoying yourself without multimillion Euro budgets.

The vintage yellow livery is even used for deck hardware such as this turning block

In 1998 Capelle sailed her to 2nd place in Class 3 in the Route du Rhum. For the delivery back from Guadeloupe he left A Capella in the hands of two friends. In May the following year on the transatlantic delivery home they hit a huge storm and capsized.

“The coastguards recovered my friends but the boat was declared lost, [then found] 18 months later. She managed to complete the Atlantic crossing upside down all alone and ended up in Galicia. But the local authorities didn’t inform us. The local kids used her as a toy to play around on. It was Nigel Irens who told me where she was and what was going on.”

Capelle went to Galicia and once again set out to bring his stricken craft back under jury rig. The boat was almost immediately dismasted off Cape Finisterre and was towed back by the coastguards. There he met Jean Luc van den Heede who offered to tow him under sail all the way back to La Trinité.

“I got hold of a long line and he managed to bring me all the way. I rebuilt her completely for the second time. Then I decided to do the Route du Rhum in 2006.

“The boat went upside down near where she was previously dismasted off Cape Finisterre. There was a bug with the autopilot, and three boats capsized with the same problem. There was a Class 40 not far from me sailed by Philippe Legros, who picked me up. I left my beacon on the boat, so we could find her again.”

Four days later he was dropped off at the Azores where he immediately chartered a tuna fishing boat from Yeu Island, and ten days later they found the capsized A Capella and towed her, yet again, back to la Trinité. “They were four difficult years. I told myself it was my fault she had capsized. Even if the big names told me that happens, but I couldn’t cope with it. I rebuilt her again, but this time only partially as she had only spent ten days in the water and the mast didn’t break. I saved the engine and got her back in shape.”

The indefatigable Capelle was back on the startline of the Rhum in 2010, slightly more cautious but still as in love with the race and his boat as ever.

“It was a tough Route du Rhum for me, because I was afraid of capsizing. This time I decided to bring her home on a cargo ship!”

The lifting daggerboards are now carbon, as are the floats, thanks to Capelle’s expertise

The mast is set on a stainless steel ball, and can be both rotated and canted

Back in the game

In between times, the fiery yellow A Capella has done dozens of other races, the Armen Race, the Fastnet, the SNSM, and inshore series. Capelle explains: “In France for two years I was Multi 2000 champion on her. I’ll be taking part in the next Route du Rhum, the sixth for A Capella and the fifth with me.

“She’s a boat that doesn’t want to die. Each time she capsizes, she comes back again. Each time people tell me I’m crazy. But I go for it each time and rebuild her.”

Capelle competed in this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, finishing fourth in the MOCRA multihull class. He describes the start as epic. “The exit out of the Solent was the best part of the race; straight out into a seaway. And the south coast of England was so beautiful I wanted to stop and visit.

“Downwind after the Rock was extremely hard work – this is her Achilles heel in a certain respect – as the boat is not adapted for large swell downwind in breeze. It is an extremely wet boat.” They raced three-up and all three remained on deck for the entire period from the Fastnet Rock to the arrival in Plymouth, with one on the helm and two on the sheets.

Next year’s Route du Rhum will be a rematch of the ‘Golden Oldies’, multihulls built before 1988. The trimarans have also raced each other in the Trophée SNSM, where Peyron’s Happy proved slightly faster than A Capella .

But Capelle says the result is not his main reason for competing in the 40th anniversary event: “The Rhum is an adventure for me. I try to do my best and see how I do against the others, but that is not the main goal for me. The aim is to finish and to continue the history of the Acapellas.”

SPECIFICATIONS

Length   12m (39ft 4in)

Beam   7.8m (25ft 7in)

Mast Height   16.8m (55ft 1in)

Displacement 2.5 tonnes

Build   Wood/epoxy

Design   Walter Greene &Nigel Irens, 1978

Additional translation by Tim Carrie.

About Rapido

The idea behind the Rapido range of owner-operated, ocean cruising, trimarans came from “the team" that has built more than 1,500 production trimarans globally. The world-acclaimed Morrelli & Melvin was then tasked with developing the design and engineering for the Rapido team to start building! Separately, Rapido Catamarans adds an exciting new dimension to the fleet.

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