Lagoon 38 sailing catamaran boat test

The Lagoon’s tall topsides ensure plenty of volume in the hulls, where the accommodations are located. The review boat’s three-cabin layout gives the portside owner’s suite more privacy, with the double berth in the bow, a large en suite at the stern, and storage/desk space in between.

The cabin is light and well ventilated, with a skylight and a rectangular portlight affording panoramic views. The en suite is in the largest part of the hull and incorporates a spacious separate shower cubicle and large sink with vanity opposite the head.

In the starboard two-cabin hull, my choice for sleeping under sail would be the aft cabin as it has a kinder motion at sea. Both cabins have large crawl-in beds, tall wardrobe spaces and shelves. The en suite is located between the cabins.

In the four-cabin layout, the portside hull mirrors the starboard side. 

Lagoon says the 38’s helm is “more integrated into the deck” and I agree, because you don’t feel exposed when you’re up there. The test boat’s bimini came with clears, including on top, giving good views of the mainsail tell-tales underway.

The raised steering console dictates that the main boom must be fairly high, but it’s still accessible and you can drop the slab-reefed square-top mainsail into lazy jacks. Behind, the wide mainsail track uses two separate mainsheets with jammers at the helm and a H40 Harken electric winch.

The alloy twin spreader rig is sturdy, with chunky outboard chain plates swept back from the mast (catamarans don’t use backstays) on heavy wire shrouds to the gunwales. Flat, uncluttered decks with flush hatches make crew movement safe, and there are handrails along the coachroof top.

The cockpit uses most of the 6.65m beam to create an open space between the large moulded portside table, the stern bench, and the mouldings around the helm, while the fibreglass coachroof extension provides shade.

On our test boat, the coachroof included davits for a tender and held a paddleboard, or you could add around 900W of solid solar panels. Forward, large removable sunbeds invite passengers to laze in the sun, and the foredeck is mostly netted.

A light southeasterly on test day didn’t promise much sailing, but we soon gained momentum. Pointing at 70 degrees apparent in the fickle eight-knot breeze, the speed showed an impressive 4.1 knots. The large steering wheel and mechanical linkages gave a direct feel to the twin rudders.

Tacking was surprisingly quick and easy, done without touching anything but the wheel while the self-tacking jib and the mainsail slid around. Equally without drama was gybing, aided by the twin mainsheets that allow one to operate as a vang.

Our test boat came with twin 29hp Yanmar saildrives, which can be accessed via the aft deck hatches. Under power, the Lagoon 38 achieved 6 knots (11km/h) at 2800rpm, with seven knots (12.9km/h) possible.

It might be the new baby of the Lagoon fleet, but the 38 will satisfy sailors and passengers alike. It’s a spacious cruising catamaran with all the lifestyle and liveaboard amenities in a stylish, contemporary package.

The full version of this article ran in the June-July (Volume 41.3) issue of Club Marine Magazine. Find out how you can  subscribe to Australia’s leading marine lifestyle magazine here.