Design Philosophy and Construction
VPLP's work on the 51 reflects a deliberate rethink of the mast position that had characterized recent Lagoon models. Earlier Lagoons placed the mast farther aft, employing a short boom and high-aspect main — a configuration borrowed from big racing multihulls that suits a quiver of headsails but can leave charter-rigged cruisers underpowered in light air. On the 51, the mast was moved forward to the front of the coachroof, which from a structural standpoint eliminates a longitudinal beam that previously carried the rig loads across the coachroof, saving both weight and complexity. The practical payoff is a large-roach mainsail with a 120-percent overlapping headsail, generating sufficient sail area from a shorter spar — lowering the center of effort and reducing weight aloft.
Construction follows Lagoon's established infusion process, which controls resin content and reduces atmospheric vapors during layup. The balsa-cored composite hulls and decks are built in Bordeaux on the same production line as the Lagoon 55. Interior joinery uses FSC-certified Alpi wood, and upholstery is made entirely from recycled materials. The 51 was also among the first Lagoons to incorporate bio-sourced resin in non-structural small parts and experimental natural fibers such as hemp and linen in place of conventional fiberglass cloth. CE certification covers the hull for Category A ocean use with fourteen persons aboard.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The change in mast position has real consequences underway. A true wind angle fractionally under 55 degrees was the best angle to windward in testing, producing 5.5 knots in 7-8 knots of breeze — closing further than that brought a sharp drop in speed rather than meaningful VMG gains. This is not a close-winded design, but on a reach the picture improves markedly: boat speeds touching 8 knots in 10-12 knots of true wind were recorded under Code 0 in Mediterranean conditions, and nearly 7 knots on a broad reach in 10-14 knots of Chesapeake breeze. The extended hull platforms aft also do meaningful work: the aft hull extensions dampen pitching when sailing over waves, a welcome benefit on a boat this wide.
Self-tacking headsails are not feasible with the overlapping genoa, but tacking the larger sail single-handed proved straightforward, with sheets handled on opposite sides of the flybridge via three Harken electric winches within arm's reach of the wheel. Singlehanded tacking in Annapolis testing confirmed the maneuver was quite easy. A roller-furler boom, developed by Lagoon in conjunction with Wichard and Incidence Sails, is available as an option, though it was not aboard either test boat. The flybridge helm station offers good all-round visibility when sailing close-hauled, though the Code 0 creates a blind spot of nearly 90 degrees to leeward — a genuine watchkeeping consideration that requires descending to the deck to see around it.
Deck Layout and Social Spaces
The 51 organizes its enormous platform into four distinct gathering areas. On the foredeck, a padded U-shaped seating arrangement faces a salon window that can be opened to pass food and drinks through — a detail that sounds incidental until you're at anchor. The cockpit proper offers two generously upholstered three-seater settees, a four-person transom bench, an offset dining table with fold-out leaves, an outdoor sink with drainer, fridge, and barbecue. An optional fabric enclosure transforms this space into a second salon. The flybridge is where most people will ultimately spend their time: seating for six to eight surrounds the helm, with a cocktail table astern of the bench-seat wheel station and a pair of sun pads on either side of the mast on the cabin top.
The aft hull platforms extend beyond the hull sides, making it easier to step aboard from a dock or tender and serving as an informal perch for dangling feet in the water. An optional hydraulic lifting transom platform can house a tender while underway and lower to the waterline at anchor. One limitation worth noting: the high flybridge and Bimini combination places the boom relatively high off the water, which is relevant if you ever need to work around it in a roll.
Accommodations and Systems
Multiple layout options exist. The four-stateroom owner's configuration gives the entire starboard hull to the owner — a queen berth aft adjacent to hull windows, a desk and seating area amidships, walk-in closet/dressing room, and a full head and shower forward. The port hull carries three guest staterooms, with the aft cabin en suite and the forward two sharing a head. Alternatives include a four-stateroom, four-head arrangement and a charter-oriented six-stateroom, four-head layout.
The galley wraps in an L-shape across both sides of the aft saloon, with fridge and freezer capacity totaling nearly 400 liters on the test boat, a four-burner gas cooker, small dishwasher, and worktops with fiddles high enough to contain liquid at sea. The watermaker produces 100 liters per hour on 12 volts, meaning it can run entirely off solar — the test prototype carried approximately 3 kilowatts of solar panels and was fully self-sufficient for power unless the air conditioning was running. The XXL panel array that lines the flybridge perimeter on production boats delivers more than 3,400 watts. Fuel capacity is 1,040 liters, shared across twin Yanmar 4JH80 saildrive diesels each rated at 80 horsepower.
Known Limitations
Visibility aft from the flybridge is restricted when berthing stern-to: the transoms fall out of sight from the elevated helm station, making dock approaches a camera-and-crew exercise. The saloon seating area is raised and windowed, providing excellent forward and side views but blocked sight-lines on both aft quarters, which limits its usefulness as a watch-keeping station in bad weather. The mid cabin in the port hull is the smallest of the three guest staterooms and has limited stowage — meaningful if that berth is assigned long-term rather than used for a few nights of charter. And the forward cockpit, while a pleasant gathering spot for four or five people, lacks direct access from the saloon and requires walking the side deck to reach.
The capsize screening formula yields 3.01 — above the commonly cited 2.0 threshold for offshore passages — which is typical of wide cruising catamarans at this displacement and beam, and reflects the tradeoffs of the platform rather than a structural concern. The comfort ratio of 17.95 places the boat firmly in the lightweight-to-coastal category, consistent with its multihull nature.
Refits and Upgrades
The 51 was designed with upgradability in mind. The optional roller-furler boom represents perhaps the most significant convenience upgrade available at the factory order stage. Electric drives for the headsail furler and Code 0 furler were fitted to both press test boats and are clearly the sensible specification choice for short-handed sailing, given the distance between the cockpit and the bow on a boat of this beam. A washer/dryer can be fitted in the starboard hull, and an additional 100-liter freezer accommodates provisioning-focused owners in the port hull. The aluminum sprit for a reaching sail is standard, opening the door to an asymmetric or Code 0 if not supplied new. UV water filters have been added to the production specification to reduce single-use plastic consumption aboard.
The Verdict
The Lagoon 51 is a large, capable cruising catamaran that earns its reputation not by transcending its category but by executing it with unusual thoroughness. The revised rig genuinely improves light-air sailing relative to recent Lagoons; the social deck layout is intelligently organized; and the owner's stateroom arrangement gives private buyers a private-charter-boat experience without the headcount. It is not a nimble multihull in the Outremer or Neel sense, and buyers expecting close-windedness or a racing feel will not find it here. But for couples or families wanting to cross oceans on their own terms, or charter operators who need a platform that works hard and looks well doing it, the 51 makes a persuasive case.
Pros
- Forward mast position improves light-air performance and opens salon space versus prior Lagoon models
- Three distinct on-deck social areas plus palatial owner's suite with genuine natural light
- 3,400-watt solar array enables power self-sufficiency without the generator in fair conditions
- Electric winches and centralized flybridge sail control make singlehanded tacking manageable
- Extensive layout options suit private ownership, family cruising, or commercial charter
- Bio-sourced resins, FSC-certified joinery, and recycled upholstery reflect genuine sustainability progress
Cons
- Capsize screening formula of 3.01 reflects the wide, heavy platform — not suited to heavy offshore passages on that basis alone
- Aft visibility from the flybridge helm is poor when stern-to at a dock
- Code 0 creates a near-90-degree blind spot to leeward on a reach
- Mid guest cabin in the port hull is small with limited stowage
- Forward cockpit lacks direct salon access
- Flybridge/Bimini combination places the boom high — a consideration for crew working the deck
