Rapide 42 - new racing yacht from Mills Café-Racer

Launch of the new Rapide range 

The Rapide 41 racing yacht is the first in a new range of boats. The line was created and supervised by Mark Mills, a yacht designer and constructor. The Rapide 41 was built in cooperation with the British firm Vortec Marine.

According to the company itself, the new line should "bring back the spirit and atmosphere of classic regatta boats in a more modern wrapper." The new model range will also include full-fledged cruisers with a length of 15, 21 and 30 meters.

The Rapide 41 is built for racing. The choice of the owner is offered several options for the design of the hull, layouts and sails. According to Vortec's Innes McGowan, the new Rapide 41 should be a boat for sailing enthusiasts who value comfort.

Rapide 41 Features

Sean Scarborough, an American J/Boats and Melges racer, became the owner of the first Rapide 41 hull. As Sean himself says, the goal of his search was a yacht that could be easily managed by a small team or even alone. The main criterion for choosing a yacht was the “universal simplicity” of the interior and deck.

The construction of the first board began at the Oceantec plant in Slovenia. Initially, the Rapide 41 was supposed to be the one and only instance, but the chief designer Mills and Vortec were so inspired by the idea that they decided to create an entire line.

The Rapide 41 is built with the latest body molding technology. The case material itself is multi-layered (the so-called “sandwich”), with additional foam cores and carbon fiber in places of increased load on the case. 

The yacht is also equipped with a full lifting keel. In addition, there are electric twists of the mainsail into the boom and staysail on board. 

Interior spaces and characteristics

Inside the yacht has a simple, even modest interior. Most of the surfaces are ribbed and dark wood finishes. Simple but tasteful. There are two small sofas in the cabin on the right and left sides. A little further on the starboard side is a modest galley and a passage to the forward master cabin. 

The first Rapide 41 has already been launched and is undergoing sea trials. Probably, at the time of publication of this material, the boat is already with a customer in New Jersey.

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23.08.2023