O. Flahault Design drew the boat alongside Joubert-Nivelt. More significantly, the Lavezzi was the first Fountaine Pajot molded using vacuum resin infusion. This marked a turning point for the yard, allowing it to retain a reputation for robust construction while reducing the weight associated with earlier generations such as the Bahia 46 and Belize.
Design and Construction
At the dock, the Lavezzi looks compact but pleasing. Straight, rounded bows and an inverted deck sheer give it the modern stance Fountaine Pajot had been refining since the early 2000s.
The coachroof carries the established sun visor that Fountaine Pajot pioneered on earlier Flahault-styled models. It isn’t merely a styling feature: the overhang helps combat the greenhouse effect created by the saloon’s otherwise unshaded windows when the sun is high.
Vacuum resin infusion is the standard construction method. The interior bulkheads and equipment are bonded directly into the hulls, producing a stiff structure that offers long-term reassurance. Below the waterline, glass cloth infused with polyester resin runs at least 3 kg/m². The topsides, sidedecks, and underside of the bridgedeck use a 15 mm PVC foam sandwich, while the coachroof is a 1,600 to 2,000 g/m² laminate.
Multihulls World described the boat as largely robust. The infusion process is what allowed this 13,228-pound catamaran to remain substantially lighter than earlier robust generations from the yard: infusion build is standard.
Dimensions and Rating
The Lavezzi measures 39.10 feet overall and 21.40 feet across the beam, with a maximum draft of 3.60 feet. Displacement is 13,228 pounds, and listed sail area is 969 square feet.
Those figures produce a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 27.82 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 98.79. They place the boat among moderately powered coastal cruisers rather than offshore greyhounds. Cruising World’s specifications also give the waterline length as 39.10 feet, matching the LOA—a catamaran trait that keeps the wetted surface working for you in shallow cruising grounds. The same source lists Displacement: 13228 lbs..
Rig, Handling, and Machinery
The Lavezzi is a fractional-sloop multihull with 969 square feet of sail. It was designed for manageable family sailing rather than outright speed. The yard’s own review notes that the boat offers some great attributes for family cruising.
Its relatively light, infusion-built structure and modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 27.82 suggest predictable, low-stress handling in coastal conditions. Twin 30-horsepower diesels and a 3.60-foot draft also make it forgiving in tight anchorages and shallow bays.
Deck and Accommodations
The inverted sheer and dropping sidedecks, which return to the aft steps, create a deck flow typical of this kind of catamaran. Inside, panoramic saloon windows benefit from the shade provided by the coachroof visor above.
Fountaine Pajot’s collaboration with Flahault, which began in 1991, focused on interior aesthetics and ergonomics. The Lavezzi reflects that lineage in a compact but livable coastal-cruising platform.
Ownership Context
With 227 boats built over seven years, there is a healthy population to support access to spares and community knowledge. The succeeding Lipari 41 shares enough DNA with the Lavezzi to make the yard’s later evolution appear incremental rather than revolutionary.
Because Fountaine Pajot introduced resin infusion on this model, an early Lavezzi represents the beginning of the yard’s modern construction era—and the first example of a long-lived building philosophy.
The Verdict
The Lavezzi 40 is a sensible, well-built entry into coastal catamaran cruising. It is infusion-molded, stiff, and light in relation to its robust construction, with a layout shaped by a designer who spent the 1990s refining these kinds of ergonomics.
It isn’t an offshore rocket, but as a family coastal-cruising platform, it earned its best-seller status.
Pros
- First infusion-built Fountaine Pajot: lighter than earlier robust generations while remaining largely robust
- Stiff structure, with bulkheads bonded directly into the hulls for long-term reassurance
- Coachroof sun visor effectively reduces greenhouse heat from otherwise unshaded windows
- Production run of 227 boats over seven years, with accessible spares and community knowledge
Cons
- Moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits its light-air performance ambitions
- Coastal-cruising classification rather than bluewater intent
