Exclusively tested: new Lagoon Seventy7, the 23-meter catamaran-villa

The first thing I did when I boarded the new Lagoon Seventy7 was to draw myself a map. Yes, because this 23-meter catamaran is the size of a three-story apartment where every indoor and outdoor area is carefully connected and ensures easy and functional circulation on board. The French shipyard Lagoon’s latest “effort” is a truly luxurious catamaran with seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, separated by a glass door that further amplifies space and divides the cockpit from the interior area.

The French shipyard’s design, entrusted to Studio Nauta for the interior, VPLP for the hull lines and Patrick Le Quémen for the exterior design and deck plan, aims to give the owner a boat aboard which there are no limits to comfort and ease of handling. A multihull that also stands out and is recognized for an innovation that has become a symbol of this boat: an electric swim platform with a hydrualic system positioned for the first time on a sailboat in the master cabin.

A private beach in which to enjoy an exclusive space by the sea. A solution already seen in the power boat world and which we are seeing for the first time on a sailboat. For safety reasons and to avoid unintentional opening, only the skipper can unlock at the descent of the swim platform (1.91 m x 1.98 m, surface area 3.5 m², weight bearing up to 200 kg).

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The interiors then provide the option of moving the galley and crew area forward or aft, which in the different layouts remain inseparable. In the version I tested, the galley was accessed by descending a ladder directly from the aft cockpit with a dedicated, independent entrance designed to allow the crew to be able to work without interfering with the life on board of the guests and the owner. Forward of the galley, there is space for the crew cabin with a bunk bed. Also located on the same level, which we can call level 1, are the two double cabins with guest bathrooms and the forward master cabin in the right hull. In the aft galley version, there can be a maximum of four cabins with the addition of a cabin on the right side. Instead, by moving the galley and crew area forward in the port hull, the cabins can increase to five: in fact, the space left free aft can be customized according to the owner’s needs to make either two cabins, or a large meeting room or an equally large cinema room.

Moving on to level 2, we find the aft cockpit equipped with two sofas, a table, an electric hotplate for outdoor cooking, a sink, and the mirrored door that imperceptibly separates inside and outside. Passing through the door leads to a real living room with a 360-degree view of the sea: ahead on the left is a super-accessorized navigation area with all the necessary instrumentation to have everything you need under control even from the inside. In the bow, on the other hand, a second cockpit has been created with sofas, cushions and coffee tables, double nets and three electric furlers for the headsails (Tails 0, Trinchetta and Genoa). Wherever possible on board, ample lockers and storage spaces have been created.

Level three, on the other hand, is the flybridge level accessed by a staircase from the aft cockpit. Reaching the top floor, toward the bow is the wheelhouse area with a double wheel separated by a central cabinet that houses a refrigerator and sink. Forward of the wheels are five electric winches that allow all sails and rigging to be steered from the other. Toward the stern, on the other hand, another relaxation area with table chairs and sofa was placed, behind which the electric mainsail sheet trolley was positioned. This flybridge area can be customized in a number of ways, choosing from a variety of fixed or non-fixed furnishings, but a jacuzzi tub or a crane for lowering jet skis may also be required.

In terms of upwind sailing performance, the Seventy7 sails with an apparent angle of 45 degrees (60 degrees true): sailing with the genoa, an apparent angle of 50 degrees and 17 knots of wind the boat speed was around eight knots; below Code 0 with a wind of 12.5 knots and an apparent angle of 65, the boat speed was around 9 knots average. Obviously at the helm you need to get a little bit of confidence because reaction times are much slower than normal.

TECHNICAL DATA.

Lft. 23,28 m
Larg. 11 m
Draft 1.90 m
Displacement 57 tons
Sup. vel. 337.4 square meters
Tree height 36 m
Water tanks 1,600 l
Vovlo D4 180 hp engine
Diesel fuel tanks 2,800 l

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