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The Athena exemplifies Fountaine Pajot’s 1990s sailing catamaran ethos—purpose-built for the charter yacht scene yet equally attractive to private owners seeking a refined multihull for cruising.

Inside, the layout is generous yet unfussy: light-filled, breezy, and designed for effortless upkeep. Four double cabins and two heads are complemented by a roomy saloon that integrates the galley and a compact navigation station. While many were delivered to fleets, the arrangement suits private family cruising and liveaboard lifestyles, though storage leans toward open lockers and the finishes are understated rather than decorative.

On the water, the Athena stands out among charter-focused cruising catamarans for its sprightly performance. Its comparatively light displacement and slender hulls deliver an eager, efficient ride, aided by excellent bridgedeck clearance. Sail handling is simple and secure from the expansive cockpit, and there’s ample lounging and sunbathing area forward of the saloon for relaxed island-hopping and coastal passages.

A lengthy production span (1995–2005) means values vary widely. Many examples are found abroad, especially around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean—an important consideration when budgeting for acquisition or refit of this capable multihull family cruiser and performance cruising cat.

Overview

LOA 11.58m (38ft), beam 6.30m (20ft 8in), draught 0.95m (3ft 1in), displacement 5,500kg (12,100lb). Price guide: £100,000 to £140,000. YM Test Report April 1996. From the French masters at Fountaine Pajot, the Athena 38 distills the know‑how of Olympic sailors Jean‑Francois Fountaine and Yves Pajot into a graceful, confidence‑building multihull that was conceived to welcome the rookie skipper while still delighting seasoned cruisers. The second smallest of a five‑cat fleet, it balances innovative thinking with reassuring simplicity, promising a sailing holiday that feels effortless from the first tack.

Aft, a 10‑foot‑wide stern opens into a single, sociable cockpit, rimmed with cushioned bench seating for at least 12, with a six‑person table tucked into the port corner so every passage can segue into lingering, comfortable meals. The hull‑to‑deck intersection is a visual signature: instead of the typical towering freeboard, the sheerline is neatly tucked by a large radius that rises back to deck level, a sculpted flourish that might surrender a sliver of deck yet leaves you surrounded by expansive lounging acreage and graceful swim steps. Below, the 38‑footer carries an owner couple and three more couples with ease in four double‑berth staterooms. Each cabin sits at an end of a hull, with head/shower modules between, a symmetrical layout that preserves privacy so the boat never feels crowded.

Inside, low‑maintenance finishes make charter turnarounds a matter of hours while lending a calm, refined ambiance. The salon flows as a natural extension of the cockpit: at its heart, a generous table is embraced by a deep, semi‑circular lounge; the navigation station stands at one end, the galley at the other, equipped with a 3‑burner oven, twin sinks, and a huge fridge ready to swallow provisions and keep every bottle perfectly chilled.

Outside, curvaceous, molded‑fiberglass lines create a seamless transition between open air and shelter, encouraging al fresco dining without sacrificing comfort when weather turns foul. Sail handling is straightforward: the headsail runs on a ProFurl furling system, while a loose‑footed mainsail hoists and drops cleanly through lazy jacks. When hoisted, the cover stows as a firm roll around internal battens; the covers remain fastened in the boom’s boltrope groove, and securing the main when it’s down is as simple as tying the integral bungees and running the zipper to the end.

Underway, beauty yields to mettle. Two Yanmar saildrive diesel engines with 18 horsepower turn the Athena’s length with quiet assurance and minimal vibration even at maximum RPM. On flat water she makes 7.5 knots at 2,600 rpm; with double‑blade props and fixed turning, the auxiliaries consume around 0.4 gallon. With a 40‑gallon fuel tank and engine access via the aft cabin berth cushion and its underlying panel, practicality is built in for real‑world cruising.

Comfort is equally considered. O. Flahault Design ensured generous headspace and a selection of exquisite interior materials so the living spaces feel like a capsule‑like retreat devised for two, yet welcoming for a full crew. On the wind she tracks beautifully, even at 40 degrees, and under chute remains well‑mannered when gusts rise to 25 to 30, occasionally feeling just slightly over‑canvassed in the most spirited moments.

In the end, the Fountaine Pajot Athena 38 is an undemanding cruising cat that rewards every hand on the helm. Privacy and comfort are never compromised, performance is commendable, and at anchor she becomes a raft for sunning or slipping overboard for a dive. Wherever she’s chartered, she draws holidaymakers in; with handling this simple, the adventure takes center stage while you sit back and watch the water slide by.