Design and Construction
On the dock the Lavezzi reads as compact yet genuinely pleasing, its straight rounded bows and inverted deck sheer giving it a modern stance that the yard had been refining since the early 2000s. The coachroof carries the established sun visor Fountaine Pajot pioneered on earlier Flahault-styled models, and that overhang is not mere styling: it combats the greenhouse effect from the unshaded saloon windows when the sun is high. Structurally, the resin-infusion method is the norm, and interior bulkheads and gear are bonded straight into the hulls, yielding a stiff hull that gives long-term reassurance. Below the waterline the glass cloth infused with polyester resin runs at least 3 kg/m², while topsides, sidedecks, and the underside of the bridgedeck use a 15 mm PVC foam sandwich; the coachroof itself is a 1,600 to 2,000 g/m² laminate. Multihulls World summed it up as a largely robust construction, and the infusion method is precisely what let this 13,228-pound catamaran sit a long way from the heavier previous robust generations infusion build is standard.
Dimensions and Rating
The numbers tell the catamaran story plainly. At 39.10 feet overall and 21.40 feet beam, with a 3.60-foot maximum draft and a displacement of 13,228 pounds, the Lavezzi carries a listed sail area of 969 square feet. That yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 27.82 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 98.79—figures that place her among moderate-powered coastal cruisers rather than offshore greyhounds. Cruising World’s spec sheet confirms the 39.10-foot waterline matches the LOA, a catamaran trait that keeps wetted surface working for you in shallow cruising grounds Displacement: 13228 lbs..
Rig and Handling
As a fractional-sloop multihull of 969 square feet, the Lavezzi is built for manageable family sailing rather than all-out pace. The yard’s own review notes she offers some great attributes for family cruising, and the combination of light infusion-built weight with a modest 27.82 sail-area-to-displacement ratio suggests predictable, low-stress handling in coastal conditions. Twin 30-horsepower diesels and a 3.60-foot draft make her forgiving in tight anchorages and shallow bays alike.
Accommodations and Layout
The inverted sheer and dropping sidedecks that return to the aft steps shape a deck flow typical of the breed, while the saloon’s panoramic windows gain real relief from the coachroof sun visor above. Fountaine Pajot’s collaboration with Flahault from 1991 onward focused on interior aesthetics and ergonomics, and the Lavezzi shows that lineage in a compact but livable coastal platform.
Ownership Context
Production of 227 boats over seven years means a healthy population exists for spares and community knowledge, and the Lipari 41 successor shares enough DNA that later-yard evolution is incremental rather than revolutionary. The infusion method introduced on this very model marks the start of the modern Fountaine Pajot build era, so an early Lavezzi is in fact the first of a long-lived construction philosophy.
The Verdict
The Lavezzi 40 is a sensible, well-built entry into coastal catamaran cruising: infusion-molded, stiff, and light for its robustness, with a layout shaped by a designer who spent the 1990s refining exactly these ergonomics. It is not an offshore rocket, but as a family coastal platform it earned its best-seller status.
Pros
- First Fountaine Pajot infusion build—lighter than earlier robust generations yet still largely robust
- Stiff hull with bulkheads fitted directly into the hulls for long-term reassurance
- Coachroof sun visor effectively reduces greenhouse heat from unshaded windows
- 227 built over seven years, so spares and knowledge are accessible
Cons
- Moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance ambition
- Coastal-cruising categorization rather than bluewater intent
