New Design Launched: Rapide 41

Rapide 41 © Vortec Marine

Vortec Marine Ltd - a leading independent yacht refit, maintenance and brokerage business based on the UK South Coast is excited to announce today the launch of the new RAPIDE range of yachts, starting with the Rapide 41.

The new design package also includes the Rapide 55, Rapide 70 and Rapide 100 models, all designed by Mark Mills Performance Yacht Design.

"A vessel of graceful lines which can be used for pleasure, whether for racing or cruising"

At Vortec Marine Ltd, we feel that over recent years this description has been ignored by too many designers, but not so at Mark Mills Design Ltd. This is the ethos around which the new range of Rapide yachts, launching today, have been designed and developed.

Commenting on the launch of the new yacht designs, Innes McGowan at Vortec Marine Ltd said: "It has been an absolute pleasure working with Mark Mills on the Rapide range and we are all thrilled to see the plans come to fruition with this month's new launch. We're all looking forward to getting the new Rapide 41 out on the water this summer, before turning to the larger designs in quick succession."

Rapide 41 - photo © Vortec Marine

Mark Mills added: "The provenance of the design ensures that whilst the yacht looks graceful, it will perform competitively on the racetrack. However, with simple adjustments to the specification the Rapide 41 can quickly transform into a stable cruiser - giving prospective owners the choice to cruise slow or fast!"

The new Rapide range incorporates all of the latest construction techniques and materials to ensure the highest build quality. The build specification allows owners to personalise the yacht to their own individual requirements, meaning every yacht will be built in a bespoke manner.

Rapide 41 - photo © Vortec Marine

The first Rapide 41 will launch in the Mediterranean this coming June and will be available for viewing and test sailing.

For further information on the new Rapide range, please visit www.vortecmarine.com

Rapide 41 - Performance café racer

Design: Mills Design Ltd.
Engineering: SDK LLC.
Construction: Oceantec

Dimensions

Specification

Hull & Deck

• Vinylester (or epoxy) composite sandwich hull and deck construction.
• Laminate vacuum consolidated or infused.
• CoreCell linear SAN foam core
• Biaxial and uni-directional E-glass fabrics with high density core blocking.
• Approximate hull laminate:

Outer skin = 1250 gsm
Inner skin = 900 gsm
Core = 25mm 80 kg with 100 kg in slamming areas
Shell weight = 650 kg

• Engineered and built to meet or exceed ISO 12217 Plan Approval.
• Keel floors, case, and mast step molded composite.
• Fixed S.S. fabricated keel fin with composite fairings with:
• 2400kg antimony/lead bulb.
• or Hydraulic lifting S.S. fabricated keel fin with composite fairings with:
• 2000kg antimony/lead bulb.
• Painted hull and deck finish.
• Bonded hull to deck joint with flush mount rails, stanchions & hardware.
• Toe rail to ORC requirements.
• Composite structural bulkheads bonded to hull and deck.
• Molded engine bed.
• Recessed hatch garage.
• Halyards recessed into coachroof.
• Molded propane locker, vented into cockpit.
• Opening transom door.
• Opening hatches above transom space.
• Teak deck, seats, cockpit floor.

Propulsion & Steering

• Yanmar 3JH5E 39hp 3 cylinder, diesel engine with SD60saildrive, fresh water cooling, fuel filter & 80 amp alternator.
• Molded composite engine surround with 25mm engine insulation for sound-proofing.
• Yanmar C30 recessed engine instrument panel.
• Low profile Morse-type manual gearshift and throttle.
• 100 litre fuel tank with inspection/clean-out port.
• Gori or Bri-Ski folding racing prop or similar.
• Balanced spade rudder with carbon fiber stock and self-aligning roller bearings.
• Composite wheel mounted on pedestal.
• Alloy emergency tiller.

Plumbing

• 400 litre total water capacity in two separately valved tanks.
• Marine head with individual 20 litre holding tanks having both direct and holding tank overboard discharge.
• Hot & cold pressure water system.
• Water heater 20 liter tank heated from engine.
• Head shower with sump pump.
• Manual bilge pumps in cockpit and below decks.
• Electric bilge pump.

Deck Hardware

• Two Harken 60.3STEP or similar 3 speed winches.
• Two Harken 50.2STEP or similar 2 speed winches.
• Four winch handles.
• Mesh line bags with integral winch handle holder.
• Integrally molded mast collar.
• Harken deck hardware as shown on deck plan.
• Spinlock Rope Clutches and stoppers.
• Stainless double rail open bow pulpit and stern rails.
• Stainless steel tapered lifeline stanchions, aft 2 pairs with support legs.
• Three flush mount mooring cleats.
• Flush foredeck hatch.
• Opening anchor locker.
• Four Lewmar Size 1 opening ports.
• Lexan companionway sliding hatch.
• Offshore weather boards with inside/ outside opening, lockable hasp.
• Compass Suunto F-116 or equivalent.
• Small removable single-leg cockpit table.
• Remote hydraulic pump for backstay with P&S button controls in cockpit.
• Swim ladder – removeable.
• Anchor mounted on deployable arm from anchor locker.
• Removable anchor windlass.

Spars & Rigging

• Carbon mast – 2 swept spreader / no runners. Axxon, Pauger, or similar.
• Carbon boom with mainsail supports, 16:1 internal outhaul, mainsail reef clutches and sheaves, mainsheet bail and vang lug.
• Discontinuous rod rigging and turnbuckles.
• Double masthead spinnaker halyard sheaves.
• Double genoa halyard sheaves at hounds.
• Two genoa halyards.
• Two spinnaker halyards.
• Main halyard with SS captive pin shackle.
• Mainsheet.
• Traveler control lines.
• Two mainsail clew reef lines.
• Carbon-fiber fixed bowsprit.
• Tack line.
• Two spinnaker sheets.
• Two genoa sheets.
• Integral hydraulic backstay cylinder mounted underdeck.
• Solid Mechanical Vang.
• Custom composite chainplates and backstay tang.

Electrical

• Two 4D AGM deep cycle house batteries.
• One Group 27 engine start battery.
• Battery condition meter.
• Custom DC electrical panels w/ 12 circuit breakers.
• 220 VAC shorepower system
• 12 VDC refrigeration system.
• LED Navigation & steaming lights.
• Four swivelling white LED lights.
• Five red/white LED dome lights.
• Chart Light.
• LED indirect lighting.
• VHF wire to masthead windex/aerial unit.

Galley

• Polished stainless sink recessed in counter top.
• Fixed two burner gas stove with removable worktop over.
• Front opening refrigerator under.
• Gas bottle in cockpit locker connected through solenoid shutoff switch.
• Pressure water pump.
• Swivel faucet pressure water.
• Dry goods storage bins.
• Storage locker under stove.
• Three drawers, pot storage and locker.
• Rubbish bin.

Interior

• Door into the forward stateroom.
• Door into enclosed head to port with door forward into stateroom.
• Hanging locker P&S, lockers/drawers under.
• Large double V-berth, drawers for storage underneath.
• Enclosed head with mirrors, storage outboard and under sink, dual purpose shower/sink spigot, and door. Shower sump for easy cleaning and draining.
• Faired and painted overhead and hull sides.
• Varnished or painted batten hull sides in main cabin.
• Varnished teak & holly veneer sole with removable panels.
• Main cabin settee berths with cushions, stowage under.
• Seatback hinges up to form pilot berth, backrest cushions.
• Port and Starboard grab rails in main cabin.
• Double quarter berth to port, single quarter berth to starboard. (removable panels?)

Finishes

• Hull fared and painted with dark blue Awlgrip system (or similar).
• White cove and 2 boot stripes.
• White or light gray bottom paint, sprayed & sanded to 400 grit finish
• Deck non-skid in contrasting color to deck gloss (light gray/white or sand/white)
• Interior off-white satin epoxy with wood trim around openings; lightweight bunk tops with white finish; wood drawer and cabinet trim.

Options

• Chrome Bronze Winches
• Eberspacher heater
• Electro/hydraulic boom vang

Rapide 41 - photo © Vortec Marine

Rapide 41 - photo © Vortec Marine