Lagoon 38

Launched 26 years after the 380, the new 38 logically stands out, having had a thorough structural overhaul. In reality, it’s more like a “little 43” than an evolution of the 380, and you’ll find many features already seen on the 43. Gone are the very aft-set rigs of previous Lagoon generations - the mast has been moved forward again, as on the 43, while the front of the coachroof acts as a compression post, simplifying construction in terms of process and cost and freeing up space in the saloon.

Modern and Accessible

Clément Daël, Lagoon’s sales director, has been involved in the L38 project since the very first sketches. When asked about the place of this new model in the range, he doesn’t beat around the bush: “We needed a modern, compact catamaran with a competitive price tag. The 38 fulfills this mission. Development costs are high, but the return from the image for the brand is essential.” According to him, the target production rate of 100 units per year is realistic, with a 50% split between charter companies and private owners. The announced base price is very competitive for this corner of the market, with a particularly attractive offer given the features provided. For Clément, launching a small catamaran is also a courageous move on the part of the French shipyard: profitability is lower in this segment compared to larger units, but it is in the company’s DNA to serve all sectors of the market.
For our test sail, taking place between limestone cliffs and turquoise waters, the world leader in multihull construction has assembled an eclectic and enthusiastic crew: Javier, a professional Spanish skipper who knows the shipyard’s catamarans like the back of his hand, a young first mate in charge of sail handling, Quentin Beraud, product manager who had previously led the development of the 43, the young but very sharp Barthélémy Mulliez, a sales representative who has just joined the marketing department, and finally Serge, the happy owner of a Lagoon 380 for fifteen years, who has come to check out the successor to his favorite catamaran in real life. The only one missing is Clément, but he’ll be able to observe us at his leisure as he’ll be buddy boating us aboard the Lagoon 43.
When I arrived on site, I was really worried about whether the test would actually go ahead, as the Mistral was really doing its thing. The conditions were far from a gentle stroll: 20 to 25 knots in the straits, gusting to 30, accompanied by a short swell that fortunately hadn’t had time to build up too much. The organizers of the test were wisely organizing all the trips in the afternoon, as the wind was forecast to ease.
So, for once, we were dealing with weather conditions that should highlight the difference between a multihull that is too placid and a true sailing boat. The afternoon’s objective: to sail downwind to Piantarella Bay, drop the hook for a short break to get a feel for life at anchor, then a return leg hard on the wind to the port of Bonifacio. A complete course, allowing us to test all aspects of the catamaran, both in terms of comfort and performance.

Downwind: Surfing Towards Piantarella!

As we exited the channel, the full mainsail was hoisted and the self-tacking jib unfurled 100%. No messing about! As soon as we bore away, the Strait of Bonifacio greeted the crew with a 28-knot gust. The Lagoon 38 responded with sharp acceleration: 8, then 9, and even 10.2 knots appearing on the GPS. All this without excessive heel and with reassuring control at the helm for a small multihull. “It feels like we’re on a much bigger boat,” enthused Javier, standing at the helm on the semi-flybridge, where all sail maneuvers are concentrated around a single electric winch. The rudders were gripping well, with no stalling in the surf: the feedback is surprisingly precise for a multihull of this size.
At Quentin’s request, we eased the mainsheet a few inches and bore away a little more: the catamaran stabilized at 8 knots and the hulls were slipping very well through the short chop. Serge, who obviously knows his 380 by heart, gave a thumbs up: “We’re keeping the same smooth ride, but with an extra bit of responsiveness.” We owe this little extra soul to the design of the hulls, which are more powerful and provide better lift in the breeze. It’s not the sail plan that gives the 38 a boost, as the total sail area (in this mainsail + jib configuration) is the same as that of the 380, and even less so the weight, which is 41% higher. In a good breeze, the sail area is therefore sufficient to trigger real sensations.
One small downside is the quality of the basic Dacron sails, which in my opinion are not worthy of the hull, especially the jib. The leech has trouble holding its shape and the sail doesn’t feel that durable.
The trip to Piantarella quickly turned into a perfect photo/video session for my drone: the sun played with the spray, the cliffs of Bonifacio receded into the distance, and the catamaran covered the miles at a very respectable average speed. The Lagoon 43 that had set sail just ahead of us was actually struggling to pull away - much to Javier’s delight - despite its extra few feet. In terms of visibility, the semi-flybridge works wonders: you can helm while keeping one eye on the telltales and the other on the swell, all while in view of the crew sheltered in the cockpit. An undeniable ergonomic success.

Comfort at Anchor

When it came time for a break, we dropped anchor off Piantarella. The water was incredibly clear, an unmissable stopover! The retractable glass window slides into its housing and literally erases the boundary between inside and outside: the saloon and cockpit merge into one vast marine loft. The saloon table and the cockpit table - which are almost adjacent to one another - can seat 10 people, and everyone will appreciate the natural ventilation. Even in temperatures of 86°F (30°C), there was no feeling of stuffiness in the saloon/cockpit.
Nauta Design is responsible for this bright, modern interior, which is unostentatious but with a real upgrade in the wood and fabrics used.
Serge, always looking for comparisons, carefully inspects the interior and seemed won over. The hull portholes, larger than those on the 380, bathe the cabins in soft light.
The owner’s cabin occupies the entire port hull, breaking with convention by having the bed at the front and XXL bathroom aft. A real desk has been installed in the passageway. The space and comfort here are completely unprecedented on a multihull of less than 40 feet.
On the extended sugarscoops, Javier’s second mate deployed the swim ladder, and I took the opportunity to inspect the hull while swimming, and everything appears flawless. In the distance, the islands of the Lavezzi archipelago were visible on the horizon, and the wind was beginning to drop slightly. It was time to head back to Bonifacio, but this was to be a close-hauled leg.

Tacking Back to Harbor

We made a long first leg on port tack towards Sardinia for another drone photo shoot, but this time along the Lavezzi Islands. The small catamaran was making 5 knots with a true wind angle of 65 degrees. I had the opportunity to sail on a 380 in the Caribbean as a support boat for the F18 Tour de la Martinique, and as I recall, we didn’t sail any higher than this despite the overlapping genoa. We tacked a few times to observe the upwind angles. The maneuver is particularly easy thanks to the self-tacking jib, even though the sail itself sometimes tends to get stuck in irons when tacking. Quentin Beraud assures me that the shipyard is already working on improving the system. However, now that the wind was dropping a little, our jib seemed too small, but it was still too early to unfurl the Code 0. As a result, the Lagoon 38 was struggling somewhat to get going again in the chop: in these conditions, the 380 and its overlapping genoa would have had the advantage! Talking to Clément Daël after the trip, he confirmed that this was a deliberate choice: “We prefer a sail plan that is reassuring for first-time buyers and charter fleets. Sailors who want more ‘pep’ have a generous 580-square-foot (54 m²) Code 0 (compared to 323 sq ft / 30 m² for the 380’s overlapping genoa – Ed.) which is very easy to use.”
Unfortunately, the weather conditions and timing didn’t allow us to test this sail during our sea trial.
A few miles from the harbor entrance, we decided to use the engines so as not to return too late. The twin 29 hp Yanmar motors purred along at 2,000 rpm at cruising speed. The GPS stabilized the speed at 5 knots in a residual swell of around 3 feet/1 meter. In the saloon, we measured 60 dB at head height, which is very reasonable. Serge couldn’t believe it: “On my 380, at the same speed, you have to raise your voice more than this.” Opposite, Charles-Étienne Devanneaux’s opinion was also interesting; Naos Yachts, which he founded in 2009 in Los Angeles, is already preparing to take delivery of its first units. The company has built its reputation on turnkey support: sales, charter management, training, and delivery. With seventeen employees now spread between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Hawaii, Naos is now a major player in the Bénéteau-Lagoon network in the United States. “The Californian market loves simple, family-friendly boats that aren’t too big to fit in marinas but are seaworthy enough to sail to the islands on weekends,” explains Charles-Étienne. “This catamaran is fantastic!” he exclaims. “The 38 ticks all the boxes. Seaworthy, comfortable, and robust - which is in keeping with the shipyard’s philosophy - it is still a reasonable size for the ports on the US west coast.” Naos plans to organize a West Coast Lagoon Rally in the fall, where several Lagoon catamarans will compete in some friendly racing. This is further proof that the new 38 is not just a replacement for the 380: it is opening up a new global market in a sector that other manufacturers have somewhat ignored.

Conclusion

After an afternoon spent testing the sails, trying out the engines, and examining every nook and cranny of the catamaran, the verdict was clear: the Lagoon 38 is not just a replacement for the 380, it redefines the very concept of a compact cruising catamaran. More lively, brighter, and better designed, it adds that touch of modernity that was missing from the smaller models of the previous decade. The raw figures - sail area, living space, displacement - all confirm the value of investing in a gennaker, but it’s the feeling you get at the helm that really seals the deal.
After this test, I have no doubt that the 38 is going to do equally as well as its illustrious predecessor!

They Tested it and Here’s What They Had to Say...

Quentin Beraud and Javier, the skipper

Clément Daël

Charles‑Étienne Devanneaux

Lagoon 380 :

Built between 1999 and 2020, the Lagoon 380 is now considered an iconic multihull. However, this model is not the first of the “modern” Lagoons with vertical coachroof windows - that title belongs to the 410, launched two years earlier... But at a time when charter companies were driving the fledgling multihull market, the 410 was somewhat hampered by its engine compartments housed under the aft berths. This configuration was considered noisy as well as impractical when it came to maintenance. As a result, the Lagoon 380, which had proper engine compartments, quickly gained a clear advantage over its big sistership. Recognized by all as seaworthy and easy to handle, the Lagoon 380 quickly appealed to families trying out catamarans, often after years of sailing monohulls. There have been countless Atlantic crossings—and even circumnavigations—made on the 380. Even today, five years after production ceased, this Lagoon remains a best-seller on the pre-owned market.

For once, we were treated to a windy sea trial - and we didn’t even reef the sails.

While the bows are narrow, the massive chine quickly adds significant volume to the hull. Note the gull-wing underside to the nacelle, which has become a trademark of the brand.

The self-tacking jib was adopted to simplify maneuvers. Under way, it proves tricky to trim...

In our opinion, the square-topped mainsail is an essential option - even more so than a gennaker.

The hull windows are integrated into a reveal to protect them from impact and load from fenders. Note the subtle widening at the after end, which enhances the sugarscoops.

The helm station is semi-raised and all sail maneuvers are managed from a single electric winch.

The chain lead - like the bow roller and the windlass - is offset to port, creating one large and one small trampoline...

Serge’s Lagoon 380 was on standby in Bonifacio, but the rough conditions on the day prevented us from organizing a proper friendly comparison out on the water

This view of the cockpit sums up the progress made in 25 years in terms of interior layout and ergonomics.

The galley offers an astonishing amount of workspace for a catamaran of only 38 feet.

What stands out about the owner’s cabin? The traditional aft bunk has been moved forward...