Evolution of the 620 visible in the new flagship Lagoon 60

Lagoon, the world leader in cruising multihulls (7,000 units produced since 1984), has not deployed all of its most creative ideas in the euphoria caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when the market is more difficult, the manufacturer is pulling out all the stops with two new sailing catamarans, the 43 and the 60, which will be presented at the next Cannes Yachting Festival (from September 10 to 15, 2024).

It is the larger of the two catamarans, now the flagship of the “standard” range, that we were lucky enough to discover in the crystal clear waters of the northern tip of Menorca, Spain.

Replacing the old top-class model was never an easy task. In this case, the shadow of the 620 loomed over the 60. Lagoon sold 169 units of the larger 620, before the launch of the Premium version of the model, and it was a great success.

Last March in Bordeaux, where all Lagoon yachts over 50 feet are built, we were able to see for ourselves, during the first presentation of the Lagoon 60, how all the key points of the 620 had been taken up and, of course, optimized to meet today’s requirements. We were now able to see them in action.

Brand Manager Thomas Gailly and Product Developer Bruno Belmont welcomed us to Fornells Bay, Menorca.

We were there, in conditions very close to those of a real cruise: the Lagoon 60 was anchored here, with the Lagoon staff remaining on board. The large catamaran had just finished a long sea trial, and the crew had been asked to return to the yard to take stock of all the sensations, good or bad. The aim of course being to fine-tune this new catamaran before the big commercial launch in September.

Upon boarding, the evolution compared to the 620 is immediately perceptible: you climb the steps to the cockpit, or rather the beach club, with disconcerting ease. Gailly and Belmont state the basic line of the positioning “Openness, fluidity, comfort, generosity: the Lagoon 60 is a dream stopover”.

Beyond the marketing speech, the figures confirm the XXL atmosphere on board: a 36 m² cockpit with a rotating terrace, an equally large flybridge, a 20 m² owner’s suite, a cockpit accessible via a forward door and a saloon of more than 20 m². Such characteristics are almost unheard of in this size range.

A long development

Numbers alone would not be enough 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 comfort of a yacht.

It was not 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 over its entire width, and the rear beam has been removed to leave a clear view of the water.

The overall architecture is designed to stiffen the platform, making it more resistant to torsional stresses. The return to an advanced rig offers many advantages: a more tolerant and powerful sail plan in light chop, a more open saloon thanks to the removal of the compression mast, and a flybridge that is now perfectly clear.

The specifications set were clear: the Lagoon 60 had to remain a simple catamaran, easy to manoeuvre and more energy-efficient.

For the powertrain, Yanmar was tasked with developing a special 150 hp engine with sail-drive transmission, a configuration that saves space and is more reliable than a V-drive.

As for the chilled water air conditioning, it consumes 25% less energy: it is designed to operate all night on the lithium battery bank. With two 125 A alternators on each engine, the generator only needs to run eight hours a day to meet the significant needs of the on-board hotel industry.

Ease of use and versatility

All technical aspects have been designed to optimize on-board comfort, ergonomics and modularity. In these last areas, the 60 benefits from equipment directly inspired by the Lagoon SIXTY/SEVENTY premium range.

On board, movement is made easy thanks to a well-designed circulation system. The 45-degree flybridge descent, with wide steps to pass each other, and the single-level floor are very much appreciated.

The aft terrace, with its large modular table and folding wings – facilitating boarding at the quayside – is a success. As for the full-width bathing platform, it is a must. The saloon is just as convincing, especially in the galley down version. The space includes a counter/bar, half outside, half inside, where all the guests on board can meet for a snack, simply great. The table and the sofa are very comfortable and benefit from an unobstructed sea view.

The sunbathing area at the front of the flybridge is very pleasant. Under the hard top, the immense space can be adapted to suit the owner, with options available in the catalogue. The choice between four or five cabins is determined by the lowered or raised galley. The owner is pampered with a suite that has direct access to the aft deck.

The storage spaces are numerous and spacious, and the finishes, such as the Alpi oak, are of very high quality. The guide to options for customizing the finishes and choosing accessories is no less than 150 pages long.

Power and stability

All this comfort is of course accompanied by a significant displacement (34 tonnes compared to 30t for the Lagoon 620 and 28.2t for the Fountaine Pajot Samana 59). With a sail area upwind of 233 m², the sail area/weight ratio is 6.85 m²/t (7.67 m²/t for the Lagoon 620 and 7.23 m²/t for the Samana 59).

But would the Lagoon 60 be equipped to tackle the light airs of the day of our test? “It’s not just the power/weight parameter that dictates the performance of a cruising catamaran,” warns Belmont. “The hull shape and prismatic coefficient also play an important role.”

It all depends on what you’re looking for: a long, exhilarating cruise at over 20 knots or a comfortable average speed in most conditions? At first glance, the Lagoon 60 ticks the latter box.

With sails deployed, our multihull sets off on a light swell. We keep a close eye on the GPS to follow the acceleration and the Lagoon 60 ends up stabilizing at 8 knots, despite a real wind that does not exceed 10 knots.

The power provided by the gennaker also helps to stabilize this flattering speed, with the hulls gliding gently through the waves. Even in these light conditions, we were able to see that this large catamaran, once launched, performs well. Underfoot, we also feel that the structure is perfectly rigid.

When lowering, you have to go up and furl the mainsail into the beautiful Lorima canoe boom; it’s a shame that a furling boom is not (yet) included in the options catalogue.

Finally, the rear engines are particularly discreet, which is an undeniable asset for maintaining an average speed of eight knots in the absence of wind.

A modern cruising catamaran is an increasingly complex platform, as buyers are demanding ever greater comfort. Lagoon designers have understood 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 a few more feet, it will 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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