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Sailing a New Leopard Home: Leopard 50 Atlantic Crossing
[may 9, 2024].
Before Mark O’Leary got on his new Leopard 50 in South Africa to sail it across the Atlantic, he hadn’t done a lot of offshore sailing or passage making.
“Sure, I’d done a lot of sailing,” he told us. “But it was mostly coastal, with a little offshore, like sailing from Ireland to France. That’s not the same as an 8,000 mile journey — at all.”
And after a month at sea on Sea-Sential , his new boat, he sees it all in a new light.
“Everyone should consider this kind of crossing. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time offshore with an expert captain, learning your limitations, and learning how strong and capable your Leopard is.”
From the Other Side
Mark comes from Ireland and a family of sailors. He’s been around boats most of his life. Before buying a Leopard, all his sailing was on monohulls, like his family’s Baltic 64 and other boats on charter and with friends. So when he was ready to buy a boat and the world, of course, it was going to be a cruising monohull.
But his wife, Holly, talked him into a Leopard instead.
“And she was absolutely right,” Mark said. “After sailing this boat across the ocean, this was definitely the best choice. I’m completely in on multihulls.”
-1.png?width=1200&height=600&name=Untitled%20design%20(25)-1.png "leopard catamaran ocean crossing")
Owner Involvement
Though Mark and his wife have owned boats in partnership before, the Leopard is their first foray into owning their own boat. So it’s a familiar experience for them, yet altogether new. To get their Leopard just the way he wanted it, Mark headed to Cape Town well before taking delivery of the boat.
“I showed up in Cape Town on March 20th, and told the build team we needed to be out of here by May 20th,” Mark said. “We were busy. I was there for two months and never made it to [popular tourist destination] Table Mountain.”
Busy indeed. The Leopard build crew are professionals from boatbuilder Robertson & Caine, working from a proven design. But owner involvement can ensure the boat meets their precise needs and wants. The boat’s owner can pick out details like outlet placement and interior finish plans. Mark’s plan was to manage the finishing, then take the Leopard across the Atlantic for a shakedown and break-in period.
Handling the Ocean
Coming out of Cape Town on Sea-Sential , they headed right into big breezes and heavy weather with thirty to forty knot winds. This was intentional, since right behind the lively system they sailed into was an even bigger system. With more sustained winds that could have kept them in the harbor for weeks looking for a departure window.
“With large seas and winds close to 40 knots, the Leopard handled beautifully,” O’Leary said. “Yes, we took some slamming, but the boat handled it well. Better than we did, maybe.”
Fortunately, not all the weather was so demanding, and they enjoyed some pleasant and comfortable sailing. Most of the sailing is downwind in the trades, and once they got over the hump leaving Cape Town, the trip was mostly smooth.
-2.png?width=1200&height=600&name=Untitled%20design%20(26)-2.png "leopard catamaran ocean crossing")
School Every Day
One thing Mark knew when planning this trip was that he needed more offshore expertise on board. For that, he turned to Captain Paul Badenhorst, an experienced delivery skipper with almost 300,000 nautical miles under his belt. On board also was Paul’s wife Sonja, along for her first offshore passage, Neil Wilson, another Leopard 50 owner, and John McIntosh, a former Leopard owner.
“With experienced people on board, every day is school day,” Mark says. “There’s always stuff to learn on a passage, so why not take that opportunity with a guy like Paul?”
There are daily challenges on board, such as weather routing and system maintenance, as well as unexpected issues like thick floating seaweed fouling a prop miles from shore. That sent Mark into the water with a snorkel and a knife.
Ports of Call
The total trip distance was about 8,000 nautical miles, but they didn’t do it all in one go. The first leg took them from Cape Town to St. Helena in the middle of the South Atlantic, a common stopping point for fuel and provisions on crossings. “You’ve definitely got to stop at Ann’s Place when you’re in St. Helena,” Mark points out. “Great food, very welcoming.”
After St. Helena, it was the long haul to St. Lucia, over 4,300 miles in straight-line distance. Averaging 7.7 knots on this leg, it still took over three weeks out of sight of land to complete. They caught a couple of tropical waves to liven things up and made great time.
In St. Lucia, Holly and their daughter Maddie caught up with Mark for some Caribbean sailing on the way to St. Thomas. There, Neil Wilson left them and they continued on to Ft. Lauderdale, then on up the coast to Annapolis.
Built Tough
One of the best parts of this crossing was the boat shakedown. It’s almost a non-story, as there were only two minor, cosmetic issues that popped up for all the miles of hard sailing. When Leopard technicians went over the boat in Annapolis, one commented she looked like they had delivered her on board another ship.
The plans for Sea-Sential are two seasons in the U.S., with a trip to the Caribbean in the middle. After heading to Florida at the end of Hurricane season, they’ll make for St. Lucia again and take the slow route back, island hopping their way north. Eventually the boat will head to Ireland and onwards for some European cruising, then to Mallorca, which will be her permanent base.
“Your boat is meant to sail, and new owners should do this crossing and get expertise from someone like Paul on board,” Mark concludes. “The boat handles it amazingly well. The boat wants to make the trip, and you only learn the boat’s spirit and character from a long trip like this.”
-Apr-29-2024-08-44-13-0112-PM.png?width=1200&height=600&name=Untitled%20design%20(27)-Apr-29-2024-08-44-13-0112-PM.png "leopard catamaran ocean crossing")
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LEOPARD CATAMARANS REVIEW
Our experience buying a new Leopard 45 Catamaran was nothing like what we'd expected. This page contains a compilation of information about our experience, including review videos, surveyor and testing reports, and the offer we sent to Leopard Catamarans as a peace offering. Scroll down the page or use the menu to skip to the section you want to see.
Leopard 45 Catamaran Review Videos
These videos explain some of the new boat warranty issues we faced which impact almost all areas of the yacht.
< Want to watch the original version?
Click here to see the original cut of the engine video
< Dry fiberglass on a 2021 AND 2023 Leopard 45
While in Trinidad we came across two other Leopard 45's
with fiberglass issues; one a few years older and the other
a 2023 model that'd come straight from Cape Town. This
video features the 2023 Leopard 45, as well as our own.
Our Leopard 45
Since new our yacht has been hauled out in South Africa, Italy and Trinidad. During our time in Italy, Robertson & Caine requested a marine survey be done one our Leopard 45 as part of the warranty process.
SV Liger Fiberglass Hull Scan
These are the fiberglass hull scans and report for our Leopard 45 catamaran after one ocean crossing. It only covered a limited area around the bridge deck and crossbeam mounts. The report was written by SGP Testing, an Italian company, within 6 months of the yacht leaving V&A Marina in Cape Town where the yacht was handed over.
Click to download the scan report.
SV Liger Surveyors Report
This survey was done by Rebulla Surveyors in Italy within 6 months of the yacht leaving Cape Town where it was handed over. It was prepared by after Robertson & Caine requested we submit a surveyors report as part of our warranty claim documents. We've redacted the personal information of the surveyor and detailed the R&C response in a video .
Click to download the surveyors report and the list of deficiencies .
Keep in mind that this report was just what was visible to the surveyor, and further investigations by JS Marine in Trinidad found more.
Offer to Leopard Catamarans
2 July 2024
Earlier this year we made an offer to Leopard Catamarans. It was a peace offering made in recognition of all of the good and decent people that work in the industry, including at Travelopia, Leopard Catamarans and Robertson & Caine, who shouldn't get dragged down due to the poor workmanship, disgraceful behaviour and inaction of others.
It is not something that would make us feel like it was okay, acceptable or worth it to have gone through what we have.
At the time of publishing no further response has been recieved.
Are Leopard Catamarans Good? A Complete Review
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Catamarans are popular with boat owners due to their excellent performance, stability, comfort, and airy living spaces. Leopard catamarans boast a long tradition of producing easy-to-handle vessels with spacious layouts and superior cruising capabilities. You’ve probably heard a thing or two about these popular boats, but let’s get the real deal about them in this review.
Leopard catamarans are good because they are robust, spacious, well-built, and deliver an exceptional cruising performance. These cats are excellent for ocean crossings since they are safe, easy to handle, and fast. The main downside is that they are expensive.
Throughout this article, you’ll also discover the following about Leopard catamarans:
- The pros and cons of these catamarans
- How they compare with similar catamaran brands
- Frequently asked questions about Leopard catamarans plus their answers
Why You Might Want To Consider Getting a Leopard Catamaran
If you are in the market for a sailing catamaran, you may want to have a Leopard Catamaran among the options to consider. These ruggedly-built vessels are roomy, robust, and deliver superior cruising performance – some of the many reasons that would make any sailor want to get their hands on one.
To understand more about these unique vessels, let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of owning a Leopard Catamaran.
They Boast a Solid Construction
Leopard Catamaran boats boast a superior and solid construction using advanced materials such as infused glass or PVC core construction. The boats come in innovative designs meant to be appealing, fun, spacious, and comfortable. Capable of ocean crossings, these sea-worthy blue water cruise boats have superb build quality, and they sail all over the world .
Robertson & Caine Factory in South Africa, producers of world-acclaimed racers and cruisers, are the boat builders behind Leopard Catamarans. These innovative, high-quality multihulls are serious contenders in the global catamaran market and enjoy dominance as the best-selling catamaran brand in North America. Indeed many Leopard cat owners are pretty happy with their model’s performance.
Balsa-cored hulls and decks characterize these boats. This feature helps to provide maximum firmness while keeping weight to the minimum. In addition, solid fiberglass appears in all places with mounted hardware.
Leopard catamarans provide one of the best examples of compromise between sail performance and interior volume. The hulls feature fine entry points and are deep and narrow beneath the waterline for enhanced performance in all conditions. However, they curve higher up to provide more accommodation space in the cabins and ample deck space.
Most of the boats have shallow keels and are packed full of closed-cell polyurethane foam that helps boost buoyancy as well as hinder water ingress . Furthermore, both the stern and bow feature watertight bulkheads that play a crucial role in keeping out water in the unlikely event of a collision. The bulkheads thus go a long way in enhancing the vessel’s safety.
Leopard Catamaran Boats Are Extremely Well-Built
If you are looking for a practical, efficient design and a stable platform, then you can’t go wrong with a Leopard Catamaran. Everything is laid out thoughtfully and logically in a way that makes perfect sense. For instance, the layout, starting from the helm placement, engine set up to the winches, is simple, well-organized, and easy to understand.
Unlike most production catamarans that don’t offer great finishing touches, Leopard Catamarans are in a class of their own. Not only are the boats appealing and beautifully designed, but their finishing is also top-notch and depicts keen attention to detail. You will be hard-pressed to find exposed plywood in the drawers or nails that stick out. Instead, what you will find are sleek, luxurious finishes.
Everything on the Leopard cat is easily accessible through panels. The top-quality components also bear clear labels making them easy to identify. Better yet, the raised helm station provides panoramic visibility with sight lines clear and unobstructed and quick access to winches and sheets. An accompanying manual is at hand to offer wiring, plumbing, and mechanical diagrams, and all the parts are readily available.
They Deliver a Great Performance
These boats come with a robust sail plan that allows for good sailing speeds. They are quite reliable, and their simple systems ensure that the boats perform admirably in all wind conditions, whether in a marina or out in the ocean.
The efficient hulls deliver maximum speeds of 24knots+ (44.4 km/hr) and cruising speeds of 18knots ( 33.3 km/hr). This translates to lower fuel consumption, less horsepower, and a much longer range than similar sized power catamarans.
It’s important to note here that most catamaran buyers are first-time owners looking at their catamarans as second homes. As such, they are far more concerned with their comfort at anchor than speed underway.
They Are Spacious and Comfortable
A Leopard Catamaran boat is built to provide optimal livability and adequate space for both friends and family. And for those who choose to live onboard, it’s the perfect home away from home. The boat’s easy-to-handle features and handholds offer immense practicality and enhanced safety for those sailors desiring to venture out on long cruising voyages or ocean crossings.
The boat’s spacious cabins are both functional and comfortable. They offer adequate storage space in cabinets, under the beds, and on the floor. The galley has favorable spacing, too, including large counter spaces, and can accommodate more than one person at a time without a hassle.
To ensure lower resistance and less pitching motion, these vessels come with sharp bows. Also, the transoms are wide and offer excellent access to the water, while wide aft sections allow optimal load carrying.
The rock-solid hulls provide superior bridge deck clearance , which is critical for many boat owners. What this means is that you hardly hear slamming except in stormy weather. The anchoring system has a suitably concealed location on the forward deck, thus preventing rust, mud, and fouling of chain on hulls. And depending on the weather, the main saloon can either open or close to the aft cockpit.
No-maintenance hard tops cover the aft and forward cockpits and the helm station, thus providing protection from extreme sunny conditions.
The Boats Offer Excellent Social Areas
A Leopard Catamaran comes with two areas that are suitable for all your social needs; the forward cockpit and the topside lounge. The large, well-laid cockpit offers direct access into the main saloon and presents an excellent area for kicking back and relaxing due to its lavish spacing. The opportunity to have fresh flowing air throughout the boat is delightful.
In addition, it allows direct access to the transoms as well as adequate room for dive tanks, a BBQ, and additional tankage. You can enjoy incredible sunrises or sunsets here as well as privacy while in marinas or at anchor, not to mention the excellent ventilation.
The other superb social spot is the spacious lounge space which comes equipped with permanently fixed cushions and tables. This space offers an additional area for all your socializing and entertaining. Located at the roof, the lounge provides great visibility, plus you can access it directly from the deck.
This lounge poses no interference with the helm station, and you can still communicate with the latter from here. What’s more, it’s perfectly safe to stay here while the vessel is under sail. You can choose to spend quiet evenings relaxing or listening to music at anchor.
They Are High on Safety
A great plus with these catamarans is that they come with in-built safety features. For starters, the forward cockpit provides a natural, safe zone for you and your family to sit and enjoy your breakfast as you watch the horizon. You don’t have to worry about your kids going on deck untethered.
Secondly, every line comes back to the helm. This well-thought-out safety feature means that you can control everything on the boat from the helm station. Hence, you never have to be out there in foul weather adjusting the sails.
Again, the centrally-located helm station provides additional safety, and the person on sailing watch does not get cut off from the rest of the people. In any case, having the helm station placed towards the edge of the boat is not safe since it makes overnight passage in rough seas rather dangerous.
Overall, the high-quality construction plus outstanding stability in a wide range of sea conditions make you feel safe at all times.
They Are Comfortable in All Conditions
Leopard Catamarans are comfy while out at sea and anchor. They come designed in such a way that the door to the forward access plus the sliding glass door aft maintain a steady and comfortable airflow. Furthermore, the protected helm station is quite useful when the flybridge gets too cold, or there’s pouring rain.
Featuring a wide array of creature comforts, the cruising vessels provide you with access to amenities such as a large and efficient refrigerator and freezer, ice maker, washing machine, water storage, and air conditioning. The expansive living spaces are also quite appealing to live-aboard cruising families and couples.
They Are Easy To Handle
You can sail a Leopard Catamaran single-handed. This feature endears these sailing vessels to many sailors who might prefer minimal crew or to have a boat all to themselves. Moreover, the dedicated, well-protected helm station comes specially designed for offshore single-handed sailing, while rudder positioning behind the prop allows for better maneuverability.
The helm station provides direct access plus visibility to the aft cockpit as well as ready access to the foredeck and side decks. You also get full visibility to the upper lounge, stearns and bows, and the mainsail through the skylight.
The Boats Have a High Resale Value
Both chartered and privately-owned Leopard catamarans offer a high resale value though owner version catamarans tend to command a much higher price. This is primarily due to their comfort and ease of handling. The Leopard Catamarans brand is also well-known thanks to their award-winning models.
Leopard Catamarans Are Easy To Maintain
Leopard cats are pretty easy to maintain and only require regular cleaning and routine maintenance to remain in good working condition. The boats have easy-to-clean interiors and exteriors, which makes this routine maintenance less of a chore.
Additionally, boat parts are easily available given the standardized systems across the Leopard line of boats and the considerable quantities the company manufactures. You can replace most of the parts on your own, too, if you have mechanical skills.
As an owner, you also get support at any corner of the world as Leopard Catamarans has offices and bases worldwide.
Downsides of Leopard Catamarans
Some of the disadvantages of Leopard Catamarans boats include the following:
- They tend to be more expensive than other catamaran brands.
- Balsa-cored boats tend to suffer moisture incursion. Hence it would be best if you inspected deck fittings regularly.
- Some boats experienced structural issues on the aft bulkhead and between the saloon and cockpit in the areas above the door frame.
- The saloon seat cushions are too narrow, soft, and slippery in some models.
How To Maintain Your Leopard Catamaran
A well-maintained Leopard Catamaran can last for many years. But that’s not all. Following basic yacht maintenance rules ensures that your boat doesn’t depreciate , thus fetching you a better price if you decide to upgrade. To keep your vessel in top condition, follow the below suggestions:
- Keep your Leopard Catamaran clean and updated with routine maintenance. Wash the boat, keep it clean, tidy, and well-organized, and don’t forget to conduct oil, fuel, filter, and zinc changes. Ensure to keep the stainless steel appliances clean and lubricate equipment like the wrenches, autopilot, lines, and rigging to avoid rust buildup.
- Install solar panels plus a wind generator. This is especially key if you plan on going on long cruises since it allows you to be more self-supporting while at anchor.
- Conduct preventive maintenance. This includes fixing window seals to prevent leaks and replacing recurrent wear items such as the rigging, anchor chain, sails, and seadek.
- Consider doing upgrades to make your boat more comfortable, stylish, and even more marketable. These include items such as electronics, air conditioning, upholstery, and the engine.
Here is a video giving a detailed look into the kind of maintenance costs you might incur with your Leopard Catamaran:
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Leopard Catamarans, plus their answers:
Is a Forward Cockpit Safe for Long Passages?
Yes, the boat is safe for ocean crossings. A Leopard Catamarans forward cockpit comes with a sealed hatch that prevents water from getting inside. Furthermore, the space has numerous structured openings that allow any storm waters that get in to drain out super fast.
Is It Possible To Sail a Leopard Catamaran on Your Own?
Yes, it is. All lines lead back to the helm station so you can control everything on the boat from a single point. The presence of two independent engines and propellers also makes it easier to maneuver the boat, particularly in a marina.
Can a Leopard Catamaran Sail Fast?
A Leopard Catamaran is designed for cruising. Therefore, the boat might sacrifice some level of performance for the comfort of the owner and his family or guests. However, this boat is still faster than a similar-sized monohull though upwind journeys might be slower due to a lower capacity to point towards the wind.
Can a Leopard Catamaran Cross the Ocean?
Most certainly! These great vessels are not only safe, stable, and fast, but they are also capable of taking long cruises and ocean crossings. What’s more, they have the fuel and water storage capacity to allow for such an undertaking.
What Is the Difference Between a Leopard Sail Catamaran and a Power Catamaran?
Sail catamarans like the Leopard 40, 45, 50, and 58 have additional space below for more convenience. This includes a lounge with a seating area, sunbed, and table, a well-protected helm station that’s integrated into the cockpit, and even a lounging flybridge accommodation.
Power Catamarans like the Leopard 39, 43, and 53 are mid-sized catamarans featuring the stepped hull design. This allows for more accommodation space without decreased yacht performance, tremendous speeds -up to 24 knots ( 44.4km/hr) – and outstanding fuel efficiency. They all boast stability, durability, space, efficiency, luxury, and ease of handling.
Leopard Catamaran boats have a better build than other similar catamaran brands. They also provide a better performance, more comfort, and higher value. With the experience garnered from producing numerous charter boats, plus their active response to customer feedback, Leopard Catamarans has learned to build the kind of boats that people genuinely enjoy sailing.
So, if you are keen to get yourself a Leopard Catamaran, start by determining your budget. Next, look through the various models within the Leopard line, attend boat shows, and you are sure to find a Leopard Catamaran that meets your fancy. To happy sailing!
Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!
2 thoughts on “ Are Leopard Catamarans Good? A Complete Review ”
You tube travel sketch would disagree with you 🙄 😒 😑
Which video are you thinking about? Would be interesting to see 🙂
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
Apr 16, 2019 · In Francesco and Yuka’s case, it was for ocean crossings. One great benefit of joining the sailing community and the Leopard Owner’s community is that their are so many groups and forums out there where you can meet like-minded people who are doing or have done exactly what you are looking to do, and they are willing to offer advice and ...
Mar 11, 2023 · We sailed through the Atlantic Ocean from Hampton, VA in the Chesapeake to the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean on our Leopard 45 Sailing Catamaran. W...
May 16, 2018 · Podcasts, books, music, movies, the list goes on. What a lot of people forget about ocean crossings is that it will be dark half the time you are on your voyage. Jonathan explains that aside from board games, books and playing cards, two things he looks forward to every day is the sunrise and the sunset.
May 9, 2024 · Before Mark O'Leary got on his new Leopard 50 in South Africa to sail it across the Atlantic, he hadn't done a lot of offshore sailing or passage-making. And after a month at sea on his new boat, 'Sea-Sential,' he sees it all in a new light.
These are the fiberglass hull scans and report for our Leopard 45 catamaran after one ocean crossing. It only covered a limited area around the bridge deck and crossbeam mounts. The report was written by SGP Testing, an Italian company, within 6 months of the yacht leaving V&A Marina in Cape Town where the yacht was handed over.
But any transatlantic crossing on any boat will have chafe on running rigging. You should carry plenty of spare line. I believe the chafe came from flying a Code 0 at excessive windspeeds for long periods during his Atlantic crossing. Frankly, a Code 0 should hardly ever be flown on an ocean crossing. And never at night.
Mar 8, 2017 · It sails very well, and will pass most comparably sized monohulls easily; and having sailed it in 35 knots and five foot seas, I would have no qualms about ocean crossings with it. It takes rough conditions very well in stride. I find it the perfect size for short-handed sailing.
Leopard catamarans are good because they are robust, spacious, well-built, and deliver an exceptional cruising performance. These cats are excellent for ocean crossings since they are safe, easy to handle, and fast. The main downside is that they are expensive.
Nov 18, 2022 · Very few were catastrophic, but lots of broken stays, or broken strands. It didn't matter the age of the rigging (one boat was re-rigged in New Zealand and suffered a broken stand in every stay on its first crossing) or the sea state, boats are dismasted in 10 kts. I suffered a broken strand crossing the Mozambique channel. It was new 2 years ...
Jul 11, 2012 · As far as ocean-crossing ability-and this is the truly impressive part of the 37 story-every boat in The Moorings' B.V.I. fleet has been driven from South Africa to Tortola on its own bottom. The 6,634- nautical-mile voyage requires two stops for refueling: the first at the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena and the second at Fortaleza ...