Lagoon, the world leader in cruising multihulls (with 7,000 built since 1984), didn’t use all its most creative ideas during the euphoria that gripped when COVID-19 struck. Now that the market is tougher, the manufacturer is pulling out all the stops with two new sailing catamarans, the 43 and the 60, each to be presented at the upcoming Cannes Yachting Festival (Sept 10-15, 2024).
It was the larger of the two catamarans, now the flagship of the “standard” range, that we got the chance to discover in the crystal-clear waters off the northern end of Menorca, Spain.
Replacing the former first-in-class model was never going to be an easy task. In this case, the shadow of the 620 was hanging over the 60. Lagoon sold 169 units of the larger 620, before the Premium version of the model launched, and it was a great success.
Back in March in Bordeaux, where all Lagoon yachts over 50ft are built, we were able to see for ourselves, at the first presentation of the Lagoon 60, how all the key points of the 620 had been taken up and, of course, optimised to meet today’s requirements. Now we got to see them in action.
Brand manager Thomas Gailly and product developer Bruno Belmont welcomed us to Fornells Bay, Menorca.
There we were, in conditions very close to those of proper cruising: the Lagoon 60 was anchored here, with the Lagoon staff staying on board. The large catamaran had just completed a long sea trial, and the crew had been asked to report back to the shipyard on all sensations, good and bad. The aim, of course, being to fine-tune this new catamaran before the big commercial launch in September.
As soon as we step aboard, the evolution from the 620 is immediately perceptible – it’s surprisingly easy to climb the steps up to the cockpit, or rather the beach club. Gailly and Belmont set out the positioning baseline “Openness, fluidity, comfort, generosity: the Lagoon 60 is a dream stage”.
Beyond the marketing language, the figures confirm the XXL ambience on board: a 36sqm cockpit with pivoting terrace, a flybridge equally as vast, a 20sqm owner’s suite, a cockpit accessible via a forward door, and saloon space of over 20sqm. Such features are virtually unheard of in this size range.
A Lengthy Development
Numbers alone would be insufficient to describe the particularities of this new model. Belmont told us that it took two years of development to reconcile satisfactory performance under sail with the ultimate in yacht comfort.
It wasn’t easy to fit the immense space of the cockpit-terrace lounge on the same level as the forward cockpit. As for the central bay window, it opens out to its full width, and the aft beam has been done away with to allow an unobstructed view over the water.
The whole architecture is designed to stiffen the platform, making it more resistant to torsional forces. The return to a forward-stepped rig offers a number of advantages: a more forgiving and powerful sail plan in light choppy weather, a more open saloon thanks to the elimination of the mast compression post, and a flybridge that’s now perfectly unobstructed.
The decreed specifications were clear: the Lagoon 60 had to remain a simple catamaran, easy to manage, and more energy-efficient.
For the powertrain, Yanmar was asked to develop a special 150hp motor with sail-drive transmission, an arrangement that saves space and is more reliable than a V-drive.
As for the chilled-water air-conditioning, it consumes 25 per cent less energy – it is designed to run all night on the lithium battery bank. With two 125A alternators on each engine, the generator only needs to run for eight hours out of every 24 to meet substantial on-board ‘hotel’ requirements.
Ease of Use And Versatility
All the technical aspects have been designed to optimise on-board comfort, along with ergonomics and modularity. In these latter areas, the 60 boasts features directly inspired by the premium Lagoon SIXTY/SEVENTY range.
It’s easy to get around on board, thanks to a carefully thought-out circulation system. The 45-degree flybridge companionway, with wide steps where you can pass one another, and the single-level floor are much appreciated.
The aft terrace, with its large modular table and fold-down wings – facilitating boarding when alongside the dock – is a success. As for the full-width bathing platform, it’s a must-have feature. The saloon is equally convincing, especially in the galley-down version. The space includes a counter/bar, half outside and half inside, where all the guests on board can meet for a snack, that is simply brilliant. The table and sofa are very comfortable and enjoy an unobstructed sea view.
The sunbathing area forward on the flybridge is extremely pleasant. Under the hard top, the immense space is modular to the owner’s taste, with options available from the catalogue. The choice of four or five cabins is determined by whether to have the galley down or up. The owner is pampered with a suite that has direct access to the aft deck.
Storage space is both plentiful and spacious, and finishes, such as the oak Alpi, are of the highest quality. The options guide for customising finishes and choosing accessories runs to no less than 150 pages.
Power and Stability
All this comfort, of course, comes with a high displacement (34 tonnes as opposed to 30t for the Lagoon 620 and 28.2t for the Fountaine Pajot Samana 59). With an upwind sail area of 233sqm, the sail area-to-weight ratio is 6.85sqm/t (7.67sqm/t for the Lagoon 620 and 7.23sqm/t for the Samana 59).
Would the Lagoon 60 be equipped to cope with the light air on the day of our test, though? “It’s not just the power to weight parameter that dictates the performance of a cruising catamaran,” warned Belmont. “The hull form and the prismatic coefficient also play an important role.”
It all depends on what you’re looking for: long, exhilarating sailing at over 20 knots, or a comfortable average speed in most conditions? On the face of it, the Lagoon 60 ticks the second box.
With sails set, our multihull headed off on a slight swell. We kept a close eye on the GPS to keep track of the acceleration, and the Lagoon 60 eventually settled down at 8 knots, despite a true wind that wasn’t exceeding 10 knots.
The power offered by the gennaker also helps stabilise this flattering speed, as the hulls smoothly ride the waves. Even in these light conditions, we could see that this big catamaran, once it gets going, is a good performer. Underfoot, you can also feel that the structure is perfectly rigid.
When it’s time to drop sail, you have to go up to furl the main in the beautiful Lorima canoe boom; it’s just a shame that a furling boom isn’t (yet) included in the catalogue of options.
Last but not least, the stern-mounted engines are particularly discreet, which is an undeniable asset when it comes to maintaining an average speed of eight knots in the absence of any breeze.
A modern cruising catamaran is a platform that is becoming increasingly complex as buyers demand ever more comfort. Lagoon’s designers are well aware of this evolution and have succeeded in combining ease of use with great comfort.
The Lagoon 60 benefits from the experience gained with the Premium range: and with just a few more feet, it’ll be a superyacht.
Image courtesy of Lagoon and the author
catamarans-lagoon.com
asiamarine.com
This story was first seen on Yachtstyle.Co.
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