Lagoon 42: Catamaran Review

If you needed any further proof that catamarans are now the hot favourites with cruising sailors you only had to stroll the 2016 Sydney International Boat Show marina. Not only were cats more numerous than we have seen before, but they were drawing the visitors in big numbers, often at the expense of the monohull yachts.

The trend towards cats has been building for some time, but it seems 2016 is their time because many buyers see them as the logical choice. This new Lagoon 42 from the world's biggest catamaran builder is on-song and welcoming of the new-age sailor seeking more of pretty much everything in a 'stick boat'.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A new best-seller the Lagoon marque
Part of Group Beneteau, Lagoon has been at the forefront of production catamarans for decades
but has definitely kicked a goal with this latest generation cat.

The
numbers speak for themselves as this model has notched 160 sales already
since the November 2015 launch and is set to blitz the 270 builds of
the previous Lagoon 42 and 421 models.

This new 42 has the standard three sleeping cabin layout with the master
suite taking up the whole starboard hull. There's a master island
double berth aft, a study desk in the middle and very spacious bathroom
at the front end. The latter is one of the biggest 'bathrooms' I've seen
in a sailboat with an extra big shower booth.

The portside hull
has two double berth cabins each with their own smaller en-suite
bathroom shower/WC. So three couples will be very comfortable going away
on this cat!

The saloon is mega-size and provides a separate
navigation station and galley. The U-shaped galley can service the
cockpit directly and has an 12-volt icebox as well as fridge, gas stove
and micro-wave oven. Note also the sliding doors to seal off each of the
two sleeping areas and create more privacy.

Priced as a base boat from $760,000, out test 42 with upgrade to 57hp Yanmar and folding propellers cost $850,000 for a veritable home-away-from-home.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- A modern apartment on water
The immediate impression coming aboard this modern catamaran is one of sheer size and light for an overall airy feeling. It's akin to a modern apartment on water with a chic, uncluttered interior and vertical windows around the saloon front. The latter means there's no direct sunlight into the cabin and you have a clear view looking out.

Another key feature is the roomy cockpit-entertainment area just two steps up from the stern boarding platform and on the one level with the generous-sized saloon. With the large sliding glass doors open you have a brilliant indoor/outdoor living area. Dare I say the perfect party zone!

But what I love about the Lagoon 42 is the opening up of the interior through bigger, wider hulls, so there's proper double berths in the sleeping cabins. You also have big picture windows and air-vent ports so these sleeping cabins feel light, airy and, with a view, you stay connected with your environment.

Lagoon also uses the latest resin infusion and sandwich coring technology to reduce hull weight while still maintaining a very comfortable interior.

The 42 is designed to sail with a full cruising load of people, stores, fuel, water, etc, so it really does meet its design brief. Up on deck there's access around the cabin and netted areas for'ard so there's plenty of room for guests to spread around.

Indoors, the light-coloured interior with Alpi Oak veneer finish provides a warm
feeling, as does the concealed lighting and big saloon settee.

Underway,
the high freeboard and protective deck cabin keeps the crew protected
from cold air and spray, even when we sailed off in lumpy seas.

ON THE WATER
-  Not dramatically different to previous Lagoons, just better!
The vertical bows and rolled topsides especially make the Lagoon 42 look modern and sporty. The rig has moved back amidships allowing for a bigger, more efficient self-tacking headsail. Combined with a taller mast and shorter boom plus (optional) square-top mainsail it's a very powerful rig.

With optional asymmetric spinnaker, the Lagoon 42 has clocked 16 knots in a 23 knot trade wind. That's quick! But even on a cool Sydney test day it was nice to step into the saloon.

The width of the Lagoon, plus having twin diesel saildrives, makes her super easy to exit from any dock or tight marina berth. As a yachtie, I immediately liked the single helm station that's offset to port and elevated to provide a clear 360-degree view, allowing you to chat to guests in the cockpit.

Key sail controls are right next to the helm so solo-sailing is possible if you have no crew. There's two big Harken winches, one electric to take care of halyards and sheets plus a big drop-bag for rope tails. You also get set of B&G wind instruments on the dash.

Even in light 8-10 knots we moved along pretty nicely and could tack without going into stays. When the southerly wind finally started to kick we were doing 6 knots upwind at about 40-degrees in 12 knots — all with very little heel, of course!

The Lagoon 42 responds well to the helm and turns better than you'd expect of a catamaran without daggerboards. Keeping in mind the cruising function, Lagoon has gone for long, shallow keels on each hull. These keels do a reasonable job upwind but, importantly, they make her fast off the wind where you're more likely to spend more time. The keels are also protect the bottom and fixed rudders if you run aground, or deliberately beach the boat. They're sealed from the main hull so even if damaged they won't let water in.

The Lagoon 42 draws only 1.25m so you can nose her into shallow waters and anchor right up to the beach. With wide stepped stern platforms it's easy to go for a swim, or board your 3.2m RIB slung in the rear tender lifts.

VERDICT
- In short, she is the platform to live the Lagoon dream!
Overall, this is a top-class European catamaran that ticks the box for coastal or longer range cruising. The boat meets the strict European CE safety standards and comes with water-tight fore and aft bulkheads in each hull. The mainsail stows into a boom bag with clever weighted lines to throw over and secure the package quickly.

A clever feature is the hand rail moulded into the cabin-top edge for added safety on deck, though I'd still like to see some visible grab rails. But this is a hard cat to fault — about the only extras I'd add are the optional Code O Reacher for long coastal passages, and perhaps a watermaker so that trip to the Barrier Reef could be extended.

LIKES
>> Huge living space, one-level saloon/cockpit
>> Light and airy interior
>> Ease of sailing short-handed

NOT SO MUCH
>> Folding propellers not standard
>> Missing visible grab rails on cabin
>> Could do with bigger water tanks for longer trips

Specifications: Lagoon 42
Price as Tested: $850,000 with upgrade to 57hp Yanmar/folding propellers and options
Base Price: From $760,000
Length Overall: 12.8m
Beam: 7.70m
Draft: 1.25m
Mast Clearance: 20.65m
Light Displacement: 12,000kg
Working Sail Area: 94sq m
Auxiliary Power: 2 x Yanmar 45hp diesel sterndrives
Fuel Tankage: 300lt
Water Tankage: 300lt
Sleeping: 6-12
Further information: The Multihull Group (TMG), phone 1300 175 325, see www.themultihullgroup.com.