REVIEW: LAGOON SEVENTY-7

REVIEW: LAGOON SEVENTY-7

Stylistically, it is a major change as the blunt trademark Lagoon profile has been softened by regular design collaborators VPLP. The hulls are more curved, the deckhouse and enormous flybridge more rounded, while inside there’s a distinctive superyacht feel thanks to Italian designers Nauta. However, given Lagoon’s experience of building 4000 boats it was unlikely to reinvent the proverbial wheel when it already is the world’s best-selling catamaran brand. So, as I made way across its wide decks and entered the saloon I recognised the Lagoon signature features such as vertical bulkheads to maximise volume and the wide hulls ideal for load bearing when all the cruising accoutrements are added.

Up to 12 berths can be found within these hulls, in three to five cabins and the owner’s suite has the much talked about “private beach” – a large hydraulic door in the topsides on the starboard side. Accommodation also includes a dedicated crew area and the galley can be either in the front or aft in the portside hull. With the front galley layout there is a further 25m² custom space available for a workshop or office.

FOCAL POINT

The saloon is the centre of the ship with companionways to the starboard owner’s suite, the aft guest suite and the two cabins portside. On hull one, the layout had the galley aft, adjoining the crew cabin bunks, which allowed three double cabins on the Seventy 7 to be dedicated to the owner and guests. Thanks to access from the aft cockpit the galley and crew quarters are ideally placed for maximising privacy in the saloon. This demarcation also works in the saloon itself, thanks to the main lounge adjoining the owner’s starboard bow suite, giving direct access to the foredeck cockpit. The working part of the saloon is all to port, with navigation station on the forward quarter and dinette behind, within easy reach of the galley for serving. A slight downside is the lack of support, something required in a rough seaway because this is a Category A yacht, so an oceangoing vessel. The spacious navigation station is ideal for those long sea crossings where all that’s required is a tweak of the autopilot or a change in engine revs. The desk space is sufficiently large for paper charts; something all diligent mariners should have and keep position fixes on. Given the complexity of systems aboard – 12V, 24V, digital CAN-bus and multiple generators – it’s a good idea to have the main switch panel on the companionway within reach of both the skipper and the crew quarters below. Other key controls on the panel include bilge pumps and the watermaker. In terms of interior design, the muted beige tones contrasted nicely with the Alpi veneered finish. My only complaint was the slipperiness of the Alpi wenge flooring when it became damp.

COMMERCIAL GALLEY

The galley uses the hull volume well to have a longitudinal work area with upright 396lt fridge and stylish Miele coffee machine aft. The Corian top surrounded a 240V-AC four-hob induction cooker with oven beneath, while deep double sinks take care of the dishes. All that’s lacking are some fiddles to prevent everything landing on the floor. Ample cupboards and locker space in the cavernous hulls ensure plenty of storage is available for those ocean voyages and good natural ventilation comes from the skylights which are flush on the teak deck.

The layout is reminiscent of sister company CNB’s monohull 76, which I also found to be a practical layout. Elsewhere, the crew dinette bench comes with a B&G navigation screen, ideal for keeping an eye on course and speed while dining. Moving forward brings you to the crew berths where 2m-long bunks should fit most and a large outboard bench also houses the Miele washer/dryer. There’s an ensuite bathroom with electric head and enough space for two crew to share. A corridor separates this area from the forward guest cabin which has a queen-size bed running athwartships with ensuite at the bow. The separate head allows both ablution areas to be used simultaneously. Ample natural light comes from the rectangular hull window and skylight, and the large volume should ward off any claustrophobic feelings. Storage throughout is plentiful and one locker has the pop-up television. Other comforts include the ducted air-conditioning – powered by two 13.5kVA Onan generators.

OWNER’S BEACH

The owner’s suite uses more than half of the starboard hull and has its own dedicated entrance with sliding door. But the stand-out feature is the hull door swimplatform that transforms the suite into an inside/outside area. Opening well above the water level – to avoid both leaking and wave motion when open – the roughly 2m² teak-clad platform has a swim ladder. This is an option that should prove popular, but for those not so keen on la mer en suite, the alternative is to have an elongated bench inside. I confess to not checking if there was a manual over-ride to the hydraulic operation but would imagine there would be.

Opposite the hull door is the king-size bed, allowing the owner to gaze out to sea, thanks to the athwartships positioning; and again natural light is abundant from the skylight (with Oceanair blinds) and the rectangular hull window. Up forward is a walk-in closet with myriad drawers and cupboards, while the aft of the cabin is dedicated to lounging and the ensuite. It has a his-and-hers bathroom, so there’s double sinks and a double-sized shower cubicle.

Leaving the seclusion of the owner’s suite, you walk back through the main saloon to the companionway then down into the adjoining guest cabin in the starboard quarter of the Seventy 7. At 15m² guests are by no means slumming it here either and enjoy an 1.6m-wide island bed against the aft bulkhead, while the en suite is forward (so against the bulkhead with the owner’s en suite which gives soundproofing to both cabins.

Noticeable throughout the interior of the Seventy 7 was the high standard of joinery, use of quality metal fittings and a close attention to detail which would befit a custom yacht.

FLYBRIDGE DRIVE

Climbing the teak stairs to the flybridge reveals a vast area that can have various configurations. There can be open space (with moveable furniture), an integrated sunpad that spans the entire aft beam, or a starboardside settee and two sunpads separated by an optional hot tub. Cocktails can be served from a wetbar and there’s a separate grill bar option as well; so no need to miss the sunset by continually going below.

The only real reminder that this is actually a capable sailing yacht is seen here, in the form of the five Harken winches that sit between the twin helms. Both helms are well-equipped with joystick for the tunnel bowthruster and electronic power controls on both consoles.

The professional crew are well catered for as all sail controls are powered, including the mainsheet traveller and the five Harken 80s. The other key practicality for a cruising boat is anchoring, and it is adequately equipped with a Quick 3500W 24V electric windlass and capstan plus there’s a second bowroller.

Deck space the size of a tennis court gives the Seventy 7 wide appeal, and not just to the Roger Federers of this world. Large families and charter parties can find nooks and crannies to enjoy some privacy; such as the foredeck sunken cockpit or the hydraulic swimplatform on the transom. In between there’s the vast flybridge lounge and for al fresco dining the sheltered aft cockpit can seat a Davis Cup team. Meanwhile, the forward cockpit is conveniently directly accessible from the deck and the saloon.

POWERFUL RIG

Moving a 56-tonne boat in light Asian airs is no mean feat, so wisely the Filipino owner of our review boat specified an extensive sail plan that included a Code 0 flying off the fibreglass bowsprit and a staysail, in addition to the standard genoa. The upwind sails came with hydraulic Harken furlers for easy handling and the mainsail used traditional slab reefing. The main spar is an alloy Sparcraft, while the boom is carbon and of the Park Lane variety, so ideal for gathering the flaked mainsail made by Incidences.

DIGITAL SYSTEMs

The Seventy 7 uses an ETA digital CAN-bus system allowing software control and error checking of all components.

The enginerooms in each hull are similarly laid out with stainless steel footplates on top of each and filters and electrics high up above the bilges. Elsewhere, hull storage abounded, including lockers in the nacelle and fender storage in the bows and behind the trampolines.

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Taking the helm, my view from the flybridge of the Seventy 7 was panoramic, thanks to the unobtrusive struts holding the hardtop bimini, so this gave me confidence to push the throttles down and head out into South China Sea. Under power, the 227hp Nanni-John Deere (using V-shafts with three-blade Brunton folding propellers) engines reached a maximum top speed of 11kts at 2600rpm while burning a total of 100lt. Throttling back to a cruising speed at 9.3kts used a frugal 36lt at 1800 revs; giving a 700-mile range. The standard boat is fitted with twin Volvo D4-180 common rail diesel engines with shaftdrives.

With a steady breeze blowing, it was time to make sail. Hoisting the mainsail required a crew member to climb the mast then walk along the Park Lane boom to unzip the bag before we hoisted it using the 24V Harken 80 winch. The light breeze merited the unfurling of the Code 0 as I turned the Seventy 7 off the wind. In 11kts of wind we managed 7.3kts boat speed at an apparent wind angle of 90 degrees with the Code 0 and mainsail, To check the upwind capabilities I had the Code 0 furled before deploying the black genoa which allowed us to climb to 60 degrees on the wind, producing 6.1kts boat speed.

With our voyage ending, it was time to furl the sails and manoeuvre alongside the dock at Middle Island; something easily done with the use of the bowthruster and outboard propellers which brought this gentle giant of a boat to rest.

PRICED FROM

€2,850,000

GENERAL

MATERIAL Composite fibreglass
TYPE Sailcat
LENGTH 23.28m (76ft 5in)
BEAM 11m
DRAFT 1.9m
WEIGHT 56.8 tonnes

CAPACITIES

FUEL 2800lt
WATER 1600lt
SAIL AREA 337m² total

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL 2 x Nanni-John Deere N5; 2 x 177hp Volvo Penta D4 (standard)
RATED HP 227 (each)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Check out the full review in issue #501 of Trade-a-Boat magazine. Subscribe today for all the latest camper trailer news, reviews and travel inspiration.