Clare Mahon

After almost 1,000 units sold, Lagoon is replacing their classic Lagoon 450 model with the new Lagoon 46. While the 450 may be a tough act to follow, the 46 will benefit from the yard’s innovative construction techniques and years of feedback from dealers and owners, and looks poised to take top place in the hearts of both owners and charter users.

Lagoon has been building catamarans for too long to make a false move. That’s why when the management felt that their tried-and-true 450 model, long a cruising favourite and winner of transatlantic events such as the ARC, was getting near retirement age, they went back to a team that has designed many successful models for them: Nauta Design for interiors and VPLP design with Patrick le Quément for naval architecture and exteriors.

We spoke with Nauta Design’s Massimo Gino about his work with Lagoon.

The helm on the bridge deck offers amazing and comfortable cruising spaces.

“Along with the many custom superyacht projects we do, we have been collaborating with Lagoon since 2009. When we were asked to do a new model to replace the best-selling 450 we at first thought - mission impossible. How can you improve on a legend? But then we asked ourselves: ‘What makes a catamaran a Lagoon?’ Thinking about market perception of the brand, we thought about its important heritage of style, function and dependability. These are also catamarans that are excellent for family use,” says Gino.

This is a view looking aft from the door of the head to the berth in the master stateroom on the threecabin layout.

“Our recent projects for Lagoon have introduced luxury and we thought that this was the direction the 46’ should move in, too. We wanted to introduce new comforts while leaving the best ‘Lagoon’ values intact,” he says. “VPLP’s stylish new exterior design added some spaces to work with and we used every centimetre to improve on a boat that was already perfect in many ways.

“We call the new look that we used aboard the 46 ‘homey minimalism.’ We used the same style and materials we used aboard the 50 where beauty and comfort meet space and light to create luxury. Walnut and larch woods set a chocolate brown and cream palette with warm, soft contrasts. We also used indirect lighting so that spaces have suffused, relaxing light that is balanced and even.”

Boarding the 46, the sense of openness is surprising. “We thought hard about the perception of available space,” says Gino. “Décor and style are important, but light and views are also key. Window size and height open up sightlines and let a space breathe.”

The aft guest cockpit and the salon can be lived as a continuous space thanks to windows and doors that slide open wide. The cockpit has a couch, a portside table with banquette seating, and a lounging area starboard. Add to these the living area in the salon with L-shaped couches and a pouf: More than room for a family, there’s room for a crowd.

“We designed the J-shaped galley next to the cooking station in the aft cockpit so that serving is fast and easy and everything that you need is close at hand,” continues Gino. “With the deck and the floor on the same level, the whole area becomes a unit where movement between indoors and outdoors flows easily.” There is even the option for an opening window fore in the salon, a clever touch that puts the large foredeck lounging area into easy communication with the rest of the boat.

If the foredeck aboard the Lagoon 46 is no longer an isolated spot, sometimes it is nice to have your own private refuge aboard. This is why the cabins aboard the 46 are all comfortable, with large island beds, excellent natural light and ventilation, and en-suite facilities with large showers.

“We designed different cabin layouts to offer a range of options. In the three-cabin version the owners have the luxury of the entire starboard hull for themselves with a double bed, lots of storage, and a toilet space that is separate from the shower. All cabins get lots of natural light and air through hatches and large hull windows with opening portholes. And since connectivity is a part of life that owners don’t want to give up even when they’re at sea, the owner’s cabin has an office space and the salon and all of the cabins have USB sockets,” concludes Gino.

While some Lagoon catamarans are used for easy-going island hopping with friends and family, there are also many owners who sail across oceans in them. Seeing how Lagoon catamarans are fixtures at events such as the ARC, in designing the 46, naval architects VPLP’s design concentrated on improving performance.

With some additional chairs, a big group could dine in comfort here, sheltered from sun and rain.

“We brought our years of experience in designing top racing boats to this project to find the perfect balance between performance, autonomy, reliability, and ease of use,” says Vincent Lauriot Prévost. “By positioning the mast a bit further aft, at 53% of the hull length, we created a good ratio of hull length to displacement speed that also reduces pitching.” The 140.1 square metre sail plan has a high aspect ratio mainsail mounted on a slightly shorter canoe boom for easier manoeuvring and owners can chose a square topped main and a FlatWinder powered block for the traveller. The furling jib is self-tacking for easy upwind sailing and the forward triangle is large to allow owners a choice of downwind sails. “We were aiming for a cruising speed of nine to fourteen knots and have been very happy with the results,” says Vincent Lauriot-Prévost.

With big forward windows all the way around and a glass aft bulkhead, the salon and galley area provides simply amazing accommodation.

Reaching the centrally placed flybridge helm station is easy with access points from the aft cockpit and the starboard deck. Visibility is excellent and the deck layout, with winches and locks that are all close at hand, is perfect for carefree, uncomplicated sailing. Even the windlass can be controlled remotely from the flybridge. But this area is something more than just a helm station: In keeping with the 46’s vocation for fun in comfort, the flybridge also has large sun pads that can be shaded by a spray hood or a rigid bimini and thoughtful touches like drinks holders.

Patrick le Quément, former head of design at Renault, designed the 46’s pure, linear look with vertical lines that combine strength and finesse.

This photo taken from the dinette looking aft, shows the large drawer refrigerators, abundant counter space and gracious layout of the galley.

“In association with VPLP, our desire was to increase the emotional impact of Lagoon catamarans, giving them greater charm to accompany the technological innovations that have made the brand an archetype. We worked to create an atmosphere that would be equally harmonious inside and out and I think that we have created the perfect link between interior and exterior.”

Excellent living spaces, top sailing performance, and easy connection between interior and exterior are all wonderful features, but what really makes a seafaring vacation special is safe and easy access to the water. This 46 has just three steps that lead down from the aft cockpit to the water. For the tender, owners have the option of choosing a conventional davit or a hydraulic Tenderlift platform, which adds an extra living space at the stern of the boat.

This wonderful fore deck seating space is made possible by the catamaran design.

Lagoon catamarans may be produced in series but, as the saying goes, they break the mould. Owners can be assured that they are buying a well-tested catamaran with top design features, excellent construction materials, and techniques that will be a joy to own and to sail. And when Lagoon decides that it is time to literally break the mould that has been used to produce almost 1,000 Lagoon 450s, they are ready with the 46, a catamaran that has everything it will take to make her extremely popular predecessor a thing of the past.

SPECIFICATIONS

Length overall: 13.99m / 45’11’’ 
Beam overall: 7.96m / 25’10’’ 
Draft: 1.30m / 4’3’’ 
Mast clearance: 23.99 m / 78’8’’ 
Displacement (EC): 16.6 T / 36 603 Lbs 
Standard engine: 2 x 45 hp Yanmar 
Optional engine: 2 x 57 hp Yanmar 
Fuel capacity: 2 x 520L / 2 x 137 US gal 
Fresh water capacity: 2 x 300L / 2 x 79 US gal 
Black water capacity: 2 x 120 L / 2 x 32 US gal
Hot water: 60L / 16 US gal
Batteries: 3 x 140 A (service) - 110A (start) 
Number of berth: 6 to 12 
CE Certification 
Sail area: 140.1m² / 1507 sq.ft. 
Fullbatten mainsail: 87m² / 936 sq.ft.  
Furling genoa: 50.5m² / 543 sq.ft. 
Code 0: 110m² / 1184 sq.ft.
Price: $650,000 USD moderately equipped

Price Quoted by: Anchor Yacht Sales http://anchoryachtsales.com. Visit: https://www.cata-lagoon.com