Bigger is often the easiest headline in yacht building. For Lagoon, however, the release of its Eighty 2 – which has an overall length of 24.97m (81ft 11in) – is about far more than adding length to an already successful platform.
As the French builder’s biggest sailing catamaran, the Eighty 2 enters a market that has become increasingly sophisticated, where owners expect the volume and amenities of a motoryacht, the comfort of a luxury residence and the operational efficiency of a professionally run charter vessel.
The challenge was not simply to create a larger yacht than the Lagoon Seventy 7 but to rethink how the brand’s sailing flagship should feel and function.
Designed by a powerhouse collaboration comprising VPLP Design (naval architecture), Patrick Le Quément (exterior design) and Nauta Design (interiors), alongside Lagoon’s in-house product team, the Eighty 2 represents something entirely new for the brand.
The yacht is a foray into the more refined world of pocket superyachts, while still retaining all the ease of use – for both owners and crew – that has come to be expected in a Lagoon. While the yacht shares its underlying technical platform with the Seventy 7, the builder is quick to point out that the similarities largely end there.
Rosalie Le Gall, Lagoon’s Product Director, says: “The platform is the same, but the layout has been totally changed.”
EXTENDING PLATFORM
The change is noticeable the moment you step on board and into the expansive cockpit, which has been completely reconfigured to create a continuous, step-free connection between the aft deck, main saloon and foredeck lounge.
One of the most significant innovations is the new aft platform, developed with Tenderlift. The system addresses one of the traditional limitations of large catamarans: the restricted space between the hulls.
“The idea is to offer different functionality first, to be able to take on board any size of dinghy or tender,” Le Gall says.
The platform extends beyond the beam defined by the hulls and can accommodate tenders up to 6m, subject to weight restrictions. When there’s no tender, it can be adorned with lounge chairs and act as an extension of the aft cockpit or lowered to provide easy access for watersports. “It adds 26sqm of space in the aft of the cockpit,” Le Gall adds.
Space, unsurprisingly, is one of the Eighty 2’s defining characteristics. Lagoon has also been able to increase the size of the forward cockpit by as much as 40 per cent, while the flybridge offers approximately 50sqm of usable area.
The exterior deck spaces can be configured according to owner preferences and are furnished on hull one with loose pieces from Tribù. That flexibility is particularly relevant in Asia, where owners often use yachts as platforms for socialising and hosting guests.
According to Le Gall, the expanded deck areas and adaptable layouts make the Eighty 2 especially well-suited to those demands.
SUPERYACHT INTERIOR
The interior tells an equally important story of not just moving up in size but also in style. Nauta Design, which has been designing Lagoon interiors since 2012, is known for successful production yachts but is also behind well-known superyachts including the 180m Azzam, the world’s largest yacht by length.
The Italian studio was able to take its experience in the superyacht sector and apply some higher-end styling cues to the Lagoon Eighty 2, without losing the boat’s sailing sensibilities.
Massimo Gino, Nauta Design’s co-founder, explains: “The idea was to bring this boat closer to the bigger custom yachts we designed.”
The studio put a focus on loose furniture, rather than having built-ins. The result is an interior that prioritises warmth and timelessness over visual theatrics. The design team intentionally avoided chasing trends.
“You have to think about longevity and to avoid all trendy elements, which can make you bored with the design after a few months,” Gino says.
Sand oak veneers with a brushed finish replace the materials used on previous models, while woven leather details, bronze mirror accents and carefully selected fabrics contribute to a more refined atmosphere.
The flooring is in Alpi wood. Foglizzio leather, frequently seen on a superyacht, is used on the headboards in the cabins. There was also a focus on choosing sustainable materials, hence using veneers.
Considerable attention was devoted to how light interacts with surfaces throughout the yacht, with indirect lighting helping to reinforce the sense of volume within the saloon and accommodation spaces. “The idea is to keep the perception of the boat’s width,” Gino says. His philosophy makes perfect sense – it’s a beamy catamaran, so why hide the space?
LAYOUT OPTIONS
Accommodation also benefits from the yacht’s enhanced volume. The owner’s suite is larger than on the model’s predecessor, with increased floor area, expanded wardrobes and upgraded detailing throughout. Leather headboards, integrated lighting and carefully considered material combinations create a more residential feel than previous generations.
There are multiple layout versions available depending on an owner’s needs, including five guest cabins with the galley down in the port hull, five cabins with the galley up on the main deck and four cabins with the galley down and a massive owner’s suite, as seen in hull one.
The owner’s cabin on hull one has an aft en-suite bathroom with his and hers sinks, and a walk-in closet forward. The bedroom area feels especially palatial when the balcony is unfurled. You’d be forgiven for thinking you were on a much larger yacht than one based on a sub-24m hull.
Le Gall reiterates that the design wasn’t just conceived for owner comfort but also the experience of the crew. Feedback from owners and crew of previous models helped inform a revised arrangement that dedicates the forward part of the port hull to service areas, including the galley and accommodation for up to four crew.
The result is a more efficient workflow that keeps service circulation largely separate from guest spaces. “The way the crew works on board is the key to providing the right service and the right experience,” Le Gall says.
CHARTER FRIENDLY
The first Eighty 2 also demonstrates how the platform can support highly customised ownership programmes.
The debut yacht was commissioned by entrepreneur and charter operator Mario Dressler for his company Moria Yachting, to be used both privately and for charter ability to deliver a more sophisticated onboard experience.
“We want to give the superyacht experience at all levels,” he says. His specification includes significant enhancements focused on hospitality and long-range cruising including expanded cold storage capacity and a professional-grade galley arrangement designed to support high-end culinary programmes.
Yet despite the emphasis on luxury, the Eighty 2 thankfully stops well short of becoming ostentatious, something that should speak to Lagoon owners old and new. “I like the discreet Swiss-style luxury,” Dressler says. “This yacht has this quiet luxury appeal.”
That sentiment captures the essence of the Eighty 2. Rather than pursuing size for its own sake, Lagoon has used a proven platform to elevate every aspect of the ownership experience, from crew functionality and entertaining spaces to material quality and interior sophistication.
In doing so, Lagoon has produced a yacht that feels less like an enlarged production catamaran, and more like a carefully considered bridge between series production and the superyacht world.
Words: Risa Merl; Photos: Lagoon
This article was first seen on YACHT STYLE
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