The Boat Of La Vagabonde: A Detailed Overview

Australian couple Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, along with their son Lenny, have been travelling the world by yacht for more than five years, sharing their adventures on their YouTube channel, Sailing La Vagabonde. The couple's journey began when Riley bought a 43ft Beneteau Cyclades in 2013, using his savings from working on oil rigs. They have since upgraded their vessel several times, most recently announcing their decision to sail the world's oceans aboard a Rapido 60.

La Vagabonde III is a Rapido 60 trimaran

The couple's choice of the Rapido 60 was the result of an exhaustive selection process. They were drawn to the Rapido's sailing performance and space. Riley, who will be sailing with two young children on board, was particularly interested in the boat's speed and safety. He wanted a vessel that could "go at a good pace safely". The Rapido 60 can maintain a speed of 25.7 knots, providing a comfortable and stable sailing experience. Elayna noted that even at high speeds, the boat only heeled over slightly.

The Rapido 60 also offers a spacious interior, with a massive forward cabin and a huge saloon. This was an important consideration for the family, who needed room for their growing family. The trimaran design provides an insane level of stability, making it ideal for storm-dodging. The Rapido 60 is also known for its sailing performance, with Riley commenting that he knew the boat "sails unbelievably well".

The couple's decision to choose the Rapido 60 was announced in a video in June 2021, and the boat was launched later that year. They named their new vessel 'La Vaga III', continuing their sailing story and adventures.

The boat was chosen for its performance and space

The couple's journey began when Riley, now 33, bought a 43ft Beneteau Cyclades in 2013, financed by eight years of working on oil rigs. He met Elayna in the Greek islands, and she soon joined him aboard. They documented their budget cruising adventures, including the trials and challenges of sailing, and shared them with family and friends. After three years, they upgraded to a new 48ft catamaran on a hire-purchase agreement, which provided a more comfortable base for shooting and editing video.

In 2021, they announced their next upgrade: a Rapido 60 trimaran. This three-hulled 60-foot (18m) vessel was chosen after an exhaustive selection process, which included a test sail in New Zealand. Riley and Elayna prioritised sailing performance and space when making their decision. They were already familiar with the Rapido's reputation for exceptional sailing performance, but Riley initially had concerns about the amount of space on board. However, after experiencing the boat first-hand, he was pleasantly surprised by the ample space, describing the forward cabin as "massive" and the saloon as a "huge room".

The Rapido 60's performance capabilities were also impressive. During the test sail, Elayna achieved a top speed of 25.7 knots while helming with just one hand. The boat felt comfortable and stable even at high speeds, and Riley noted that it could maintain speed without surfing down waves. The trimaran design also offered the advantage of single-handed sailing, an important consideration now that they had two children on board.

The couple's choice of boat reflects their priorities for speed, safety, and space as their family continues to grow. They plan to showcase their new vessel, named "La Vaga III", in a YouTube video, giving their fans an inside look at their new home on the seas.

La Vagabonde's previous boats

La Vagabonde is the name of the YouTube channel created by Australian couple Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, which documents their sailing adventures. The channel has over 1.5 million subscribers and the couple have become sailing influencers, with Whitelum offering advice on buying a new catamaran.

The couple's first boat was a 43ft Beneteau Cyclades, bought by Whitelum in 2013 with savings from his work on oil rigs. They met in Greece, where Carausu was working as a musician, and she began documenting their sailing adventures for family and friends.

After three years, including crossing the Atlantic and Pacific, they upgraded to a new 48ft catamaran, the Outremer, on a hire-purchase agreement. This provided a more comfortable base for shooting and editing video, and also a more stable platform for their son, Lenny, who was born in November 2019.

In 2021, Whitelum and Carausu announced they were building a new boat, La Vaga III, a Rapido 60 trimaran, which would be faster and more stable than their previous vessels. They were involved in an extensive selection process, and even travelled to New Zealand in 2019 to test sail the Rapido 60.

The boat's safety features

The Australian couple Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, along with their two children, are the proud owners of the La Vaga III, a 60ft Rapido Trimaran. The boat is designed for high performance and speed, with Riley emphasising the importance of performance as a safety feature.

The safety features of the boat include:

• Speed and Performance: The Rapido 60 can maintain a speed of 25.7 knots, providing a safe and fast passage across the ocean. This speed allows the crew to pick their path, keep up with weather systems, and travel greater distances in a day.
• Stability: The trimaran design provides an insane level of stability, which is crucial for a family with young children. The boat can handle high winds and rough conditions, ensuring a comfortable and safe journey.
• Single-Handed Sailing: The boat is designed to be sailed single-handedly, which is essential for Riley as the primary sailor while also managing two young children on board.
• Spare Anchor: The Fortress Spade Anchor is a reliable spare anchor, providing additional security in case of emergencies.
• Solar Panels: The 560 watts of solar panels on the bimini provide a green and sustainable energy source for the boat, reducing the need for fuel-powered generators.
• Water Maker: The Dessalator Freedom Cruise Water Maker ensures access to clean and safe drinking water during their journeys, reducing the need to stockpile water.
• Hydro Generator: The Watt And Sea Hydro Generator provides an alternative source of energy, harnessing the power of the ocean to generate electricity.
• Inflatable Tender: The inflatable tender, named Cunningham II, with a 15hp Honda outboard motor, provides a versatile and portable transport option for exploring new anchorages or accessing shore.

The safety features of the La Vaga III are a testament to Riley and Elayna's careful selection process, ensuring their family's safety and comfort while sailing the world's oceans.

La Vagabonde's plans for their previous boat

La Vagabonde Adventures will be a boat charter company where people can learn to sail on their previous catamaran, a 2017 Outremer 45 with an owner's cabin in the starboard hull. The boat will be captained by their friend Jack, a sailing instructor, which will allow Riley and Elayna to continue sailing as a family.

The Outremer 45 is designed for serious performance and sailing beyond the wind speed. It has been upgraded with two upright 12v fridges in the galley, retractable daggerboards, and twin 215hp diesel inboard motors. Riley and Elayna have also added a Fortress Spade Anchor, 560 watts of solar panels on the bimini, a Dessalator Freedom Cruise Water Maker, a Watt And Sea Hydro Generator, and an inflatable tender with a 15hp Honda outboard.

The couple did not originally plan to sell the Outremer, but they eventually decided to keep their new boat, the Rapido 60, for themselves.

Frequently asked questions