Lagoon 38 Launch Summary
Thomas Gailly, Brand Director, LAGOON
Welcome to Lagoon!
We are 1,000 people here on-site—Lagoon is the biggest company in the Bordeaux area. We also have two other shipyards in Vendée, where we build the smaller Lagoons under 50 feet.
So, in total, more than 2,000 people are working at Lagoon, and you’ll see some of them today.
In Bordeaux, there is a lot of history. We started in the 1980s, but even before that, ships were being built here over a century ago. This building, for example, was made by Gustave Eiffel.
There’s a rich history on this site—we’ve built many superyachts right here in Bordeaux.
Custom Yachts & Full Control
Custom yachts, monohulls, catamarans, aluminium, composite, carbon—everything the customers wanted. What’s unique about Bordeaux compared to other shipyards is that we control everything, from start to finish.
From design—we have a large engineering office here—to the commissioning of the boat on the river, we handle it all. We do the composite work, electronics, mechanics—everything in-house.
Throughout the entire process, quality control is essential. And in recent years, we’ve developed environmental practices around waste and energy management. We’re proud to say we are the only shipyard in the world with ISO certifications 9000 (quality), 14000 (environment), and 50000 (energy management).
This is what makes our shipyard unique.
From Big Yachts to Lagoon 82 and 83
Many large yachts have come out of Bordeaux, and that history is important—especially for the later part of our meeting when we talk about the Lagoon 82 and the new Lagoon 83. They didn’t come from nowhere. We have decades of expertise.
Of course, we’ve done this with Lagoon, but also with big yachts—100 feet, 117 feet, carbon composites. Over 300 boats over 60 feet have been produced at this shipyard.
The World Premiere of the Lagoon 38
The big news, of course, is the world premiere of the Lagoon 38. The boat is here!
Believe it or not, the biggest challenge of this event was getting the boat on land here. It’s too small for us! It wasn’t built in this shipyard—it was built in Vendée and brought up the river. We’re used to lifting big units in Bordeaux, but handling smaller vessels was a headache. Still, we made it work—she’s now on the ground here, and this afternoon, you’ll have a private tour of the new boat.
Designing the Lagoon 38
This was a huge challenge for our design team and our architects. Why? Because the Lagoon 380 was—and still is—a reference not only in the world of catamarans but in the world of yachts in general. It changed the history of sailing.
Launched in 1999, the Lagoon 380 attracted a lot of people to catamarans—from monohulls or even from outside the sailing world—because it was simple, easy to handle, and reasonably priced.
Building a boat like that today is a real challenge. Certification standards are much stricter than they were 12 years ago, and the way we build boats has changed dramatically.
Getting the key features right on this new model took years. I was the first one to tell the team, “We need a new 380,” and many of you asked for it too. Now, we believe we’ve found the right formula.
The Lagoon 38 that you’ll see today reflects that effort. We’ve come up with many good ideas and simple solutions, and with more volume.
Rosalie Le Gall, Product Director Lagoon.
Rosalie manages the design team, and will go into more detail on the product side of things.
From Vendée to Bordeaux – Testing the Boat
We sailed the boat from Vendée to Bordeaux last week, and it was a memorable journey.
We had the boat in the water in Les Sables-d’Olonne, which in winter isn’t always as nice as the weather today! We sailed in both calm and rough conditions. Despite the tough weather, the entire team was extremely enthusiastic and satisfied with the boat’s performance—its safety and seaworthiness were impressive, thanks to the latest hull designs from VPLP.
We have Mathias Maurios and Stéphane Derobert from VPLP here today, and they’ll be available to talk more about the hull design and naval architecture during your visit.
Design Philosophy and Key Features
The Lagoon 38 follows the Lagoon 43, which was launched less than a year ago and has already been a huge success. This new generation of Lagoon keeps evolving the DNA of the brand, now with a simpler, more accessible model.
We wanted to create a new Lagoon that retains everything that makes Lagoon successful—combined with an attractive entry-level price. That was the big challenge, and we’ve achieved it.
Here are some key features:
– Access and Circulation: A big focus was placed on making it easy and safe to move around the boat. Every living area has been optimized for comfort and space.
– Bow Cockpit: We’ve added a U-shaped seating area in the bow cockpit for increased social space.
– Helm Station: Designed for easy manoeuvring, with excellent visibility, safety, and connectivity to the cockpit below.
– Energy Management: Optimized onboard energy thanks to solar panels on the roof, davits, and thoughtful design throughout.
– Inside-Outside Living: One of the main design focuses was the connection between exterior and interior spaces. The goal is to make the Lagoon more versatile for different types of owners—those who want to sail the world and those who prefer charter programs or social cruising.
– Flexible Layout: The Lagoon 38 offers both a 4-cabin version and an Owner’s version. The Owner’s cabin is on the port side, with the berth forward for more privacy and quiet, away from the cockpit and dock.
– Ventilation: Improved airflow in the bow is especially key on a smaller boat.
– New Hull Design: With broader beams, the new hulls offer significantly more volume—even more than on the Lagoon 43.
– Natural Light and Style: We’ve enhanced natural lighting, smart space usage, and modern design aesthetics.
– Comfort in Every Cabin: Each cabin now has a queen-sized bed (180 cm). On a 38-foot, entry-level yacht, this level of comfort is usually unheard of.
- Forepeak Access: You can now access the forepeaks from inside—great as an optional kid’s cabin. The volume is impressive thanks to the new hull shape.
Ultimately, our goal wasn’t just to offer the best space and comfort—it was also to ensure the best possible price. That combination is what will make the Lagoon 38 a true success in the market.