new boat: Leopard 40

Roger Priest checks out the latest import from overseas —

the South-African-built Leopard 40 luxury catamaran.

Proof of the pudding

Here’s the open-water proof. Ten
thousand miles, two ocean crossings
and this 12-month-old Leopard 40 is in
pristine condition, boat-show ready.
Literally the only sign of the extensive
cruise was slight fading of the headsail
suncover wrap.
Owners Linda and Paul Blackbeard
told me they averaged an impressive 6.2
knots point-to-point crossing both the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They sailed
tradewind routes, so generally had
quartering seas. In lighter winds their
speed was boosted with the optional
gennaker. Linda and Paul experienced
no disquieting moments.
On quizzing them about bridgedeck
clearance, which I measured at 54cm,
they could recall only about three
wave slams. That’s about one or so per
ocean crossing, so you have to believe
that designers Gino Morelli and Peter
Melvin have got it right for this design.
It’s performance out at sea that counts,
not artificial prescriptions of what
bridgedeck clearance should be. Paul
Blackbeard’s tip for catamaran cruising
success and safety: reef down early.
That way you are not stressing the crew
or the boat or going anywhere near its
stability limits. They carried, but didn’t
have occasion to deploy, a parachute
sea-anchor.
The test boat was equipped with the
optional larger engines (29 instead of
21hp Yanmars), davits, RIB dinghy,
outboard, liferaft, Fiorentino parachute-
anchor, spare anchor/chain, AGM
batteries, GPS/chartplotter, stereo, TV,
VHF, instruments, EPIRB, autopilot,
icemaker, gennaker, storm jib, wind
generator, solar panels, 220V 50Hz
shore power/charger/inverter, powered
winch at the helm — to name just a few.
Leopard Catamarans has an excellent
policy of pricing a base boat, keeping
that standard on the production line,
and then having a lengthy string of
factory options. The base price of the
Leopard 40 is US$349,000 ex-factory
plus water delivery (US$40,000) and
GST. All the options are presented along
with prices in a simple spreadsheet, so
you can play on your PC with options
to suit your needs and budget. Using
US dollars brings some consistency
to global pricing as we have seen
currencies have had a roller-coaster
ride in recent times. Of course, you can
have dealer-fitted options and then later
add your own after-market options, so
there are many ways to skin this cat.
On the water
Test day in Moreton Bay, out from
Manly boat harbour, produced
disappointing 6-9 knots breezes. But the
figures were impressive nonetheless:
6.1 knots water speed at 70˚ apparent
in nine knots true wind. Then close-
hauled at 45° apparent with a seven-
knot true wind we made an excellent 5.5
knots water speed. The polar diagram
indicates nine knots water speed at 80°
apparent in a 16-knot breeze. With the
optional gennaker in the same breeze
kick that up to 10.2 knots water speed at
95°. Tacks with the Edson cable steering
were reliable, but in true cruising style
the autopilot was engaged for effortless
sailing once on track. I noticed the
ocean-experienced crew used a barber-
hauler to help control headsail shape in
the light wind conditions.

ABOVE The starboard owner’s double berth is comfortable and pleasant to be in. Lots of wood.
Lots of cupboards; RIGHT The luxurious starboard owner’s bathroom. There’s a large bow
storage locker behind the hanging towel.

56 July 2009

The Leopard 40
shows off easy
boat speed in
just eight knots
of wind.
The twin 29hp Yanmar saildrives
pushed us along at 7.1 knots. This
was at 2200rpm, the long established
cruising optimum on this boat for those
necessary periods under power. Pushed
to the 3200rpm limit, the Leopard 40
made 8.8 knots. Expect not much less
with the standard 21hp motors in good
conditions. But I would be opting for the
29hp donks, secure in the knowledge that
the boat would, in adverse or emergency
situations, still make adequate headway
into the dreaded combination of heavy
head seas, current and strong winds.
On deck
Striking, and making the marque
immediately identifiable, are the three
steps-cum-sunvisors right across the
saloon forward windows. They provide
excellent shade inside the saloon and
make stepping up to the cabin-top
almost a stroll — certainly very friendly
for aging baby-boomers like me. There’s
enough space round them to shed solid
water rapidly so no concern from that
aspect. The bows are good looking
from all aspects and of average height,
happily avoiding the trend toward high
bows (with increased side-windage and
leeway) among some current European
cats. I would have liked a safety rail/
wire across the bow, but this is an easy
item to retro-fit.
The trampoline is large — good for
safety — reducing bridgedeck weight,
windage and, to coin a term, waterage.
It is extra-well secured with doubled-up
new boat: Leopard 40
FAR LEFT Fore-and-aft
bench seat combines
with the semi-
circular table seating
for great outdoors
entertaining. Note that
the helmsperson can
converse easily with all
in the back deck.
LEFT The saloon has
great ergonomics for
this sized cat. Note
the shade from steps
across the forward
windows.
cordage in no fewer than six separate
sections, freeing it from the common
problem of a single failure causing the
whole tramp to let go.
A Quick Hector horizontal anchor
winch (model HC1012D) of adequate
pulling capacity comes standard. It
allows freefall anchoring via a sheet
winch handle, features a warping drum
for seamanship, and handheld control.
The anchor comes home through a hole
similar to that seen on many high-
speed powerboats. This effectively
restricts your choice of anchor to those
without roll-bars. I would like to see the
underdeck moulding altered such that
any type of anchor could be housed —
similar to the set-up found on larger
Fountaine-Pajot cats. The Leopard 40
July 2009 57
new boat: Leopard 40
OPINION
Likes
• State-of-the-art design in terms of hull
shape, motion, efficiency and handling.
• Excellent value for money and resale
value.
• Proven boat-builders with a long
successful cat-building history and an
expanding future.
• Great to see a cruising-ready smart
alternator regulator to minimise daily
engine running for battery charging.
• Superb back-deck ergonomics and helm
with excellent sun protection for helm.
• Replacable/sacrificial keels.
58 July 2009
ships without anchor unless you specify
a factory option (Delta or Britany). The
Australian dealer has opted to supply a
60lb Manson plough as standard. Great
size but many better holding-power and
weed-penetrating choices around now
such as the Sarca Excel.
There are four foredeck lockers —
anchor and anchor winch centrally on
the fore-and-aft line and a large locker
to each side. These latter two provide
copious room for a spare anchor, chain,
gas bottle, fenders, lines, gennaker and
the like.
Stepping up to the saloon cabin-top
gives ready and safe access to the boom
and to mast reefing points. From the
saloon cabin top I stepped easily aft and
Dislikes higher again onto the solid back canopy.
• I would have preferred the transoms to You should only need to go there very
offer side access on the inside for ease occasionally to access the aft end of the
of unloading heavy items from the dinghy boom. Mainsail reefing is via two slabs
in remote cruising anchorages. with the reefing line led aft to the helm.
• Anchor securing hole not positioned The small vertical gap between saloon
to allow all types of new-generation cabin top and back-deck canopy is great
anchors, especially roll-bar types. for helm viewing — either sitting or
• Smallish sewage holding tanks. I would standing – and can be optionally filled
like to see 100 litres minimum per head with clears but this Leopard 40’s owners
and to see them made from rotomoulded didn’t see a need for them in tropical
plastic as recommended by US sewage and subtropical cruising, preferring the
guru Peggy Hall. free ventilation alternative. They report
the boat to be relatively dry spray-wise
with only horizontal driving rain to be
TOP The helm has a problem at the helm. There is a well-
excellent sun shelter and
designed large sliding hatch above the
visibility. Most control
lines are led to the helm.
helm in the hard-top. It is opened to
view sail shape.
LEFT The optional You couldn’t help liking the back-deck
fibreglass davits are layout. A great deal of thought as to
high-set and strong and ergonomics has gone into it. Seated at
have proved themselves the helm you can talk to all down lower
at sea, with a cover over on the back deck and, with a bit of a lean
the dinghy. down, to those in the main saloon and
galley. What a boat for a party! Owners
BELOW Two centreline
Linda and Paul report 20-30 people to
hatches give access
to ground tackle and
be no problem in a safe anchorage. I
winch. No roll-bar reckon at least 16 would be comfortably
anchors with this set-up. seated in a combination of back deck
and saloon. The boat is designed for
10 max at sea. There is a large sliding
see-through door to the saloon. It has
a central securing point for passage
underway in cold or foul weather. The
only limitation to the layout, with its
starboard high-set helm, is viewing
when coming alongside port-side-to.
The boat is sufficiently high-sided to
need a step when accessing either side
deck from a marina finger. No problem,
of course, if you’ve backed into a berth,

ABOVE The larger of the two port cabins is aft.
It makes a fine sea berth or guest cabin.
RIGHT The nav station, switch panel and
fridges are accessible and functional.
when access is by either transom. The
solid glass davits on the test boat looked
great and safely supported a quite
large RIB dinghy well clear of any wave
action. The dinghy had a cover to shed
solid water, but it wasn’t needed in two
ocean crossings, once again testimony
to the design’s seaworthiness. And
should things go wrong, the liferaft
stowage is under the after section of the
back-deck bench seat, where you would
be able to deploy it in relative comfort
and protection. Lifejackets are in there
too. And the standard emergency tiller
is readily available should it ever be
needed. Not yet for the test boat.
Electrical
I was impressed with the standard
lighting — a combination of halogen
downlights and LED navigation and
footlighting. Better still to report, the
Leopard 40 joins the small but growing
number of production boats fitted with
a multi-stage regulator for efficient
engine charging. In this case the well
proven Xantrex, which can cope easily
with regulating the output from both
80-amp engine alternators.
The optional electro-mechanical
Raytheon 6002 pilot hadn’t missed a beat
in 10,000 miles. It was used continuously.
As on most boats without windvane
steering, the daily power draw is
largely from a combination of autopilot,
refrigeration and lighting. With four
owner-fitted 80-watt flexible solar panels
and Eclectic wind generator, the owners
found running one engine for two
hours a day at 2200rpm kept the three
210ah AGM house batteries adequately
charged. The standard house bank is two
190ah lead acid but in my view the option
to AGM and three in number is highly
desirable for a cruising boat.
Above the nav station in the saloon
is the main switchboard. And hidden
down in the starboard hull (behind
an easy-to-remove panel) I found a
neat fuse and distribution panel. My
wish there would be for greater use of
circuit-breakers rather than fuses.
Below decks
Cherrywood panelling abounds.
Interiors are a big selling point and
this boat doesn’t disappoint. The galley
is “up” in cat parlance and appeared
safe, functional and good looking. Twin
sinks. A natty rubbish bin with top
access from the galley and side access
from the saloon for bin liner change.
Microwave and two-burner Force 10
gas range/oven. Heaps of storage space
new boat: Leopard 40
for food and utensils. A combined front-
opening, twin-door 110L fridge 110L
freezer is port side below the nav station
— a good compromise in this sized cat.
You can pass things straight from fridge
to galley bench or the saloon or back
deck tables quite easily.
This was the three-cabin owner’s
version. Owners live in the starboard
hull, where they enjoy a large aft cabin,
dressing area, small study and large
(forward) bathroom. It is possible
through clever design to close off the
whole starboard hull from the saloon
for privacy. Forward of the bathroom,
accessed via the shower, is a large
storage locker for light items (don’t want
heavy weights too far forward) with
sealed collision compartment below.
The port hull features a bathroom
and two double berth cabins, with
the possibility of a person crawling
over the forward twin berth to access
a single berth right forward (sealed
collision compartment below). Heads in
both bathrooms were electric flushing
in the test boat, feeding to a 54L (27
flushes) stainless tank in each. The
holding tanks are gravity-draining
at sea or deck-pump-out in harbour.
They are a bit small for extended stays
in no-discharge waters and would be
July 2009 59
new boat: Leopard 40

better long-term in rotomoulded plastic (urine will eventually

corrode any metal). For three couples, the total 54 flushes
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 11.97m
isn’t going to last long — just over two days at my reckoning.
LWL 11.43m
Remarkable in the cabins is a boat total of nine top-quality
Beam max 6.13m
Lewmar hatches with sliding insect and sun screens. And four
Beam each hull (at WL) 1.42m
Lewmar portlights in each hull. The combination makes the
Draught 1.2m
cabins light and airy. By opening the right hatch it is possible
Bridgedeck clearance (measured on test) 54cm
to speak with crew on the back deck from either of the aft
Displacement (light) 7,630kg
cabins. The saloon is luxurious, comfortable and features non-
Displacement (max) 11,780kg
slip simulated Austrian walnut decking. Its layout and design
Tank fluids approx 1,250kg, other fit-out +
is only bettered in larger cats.
payload approx 2,900kg)
Mast above DWL 18.9m
Marine engineering and construction
Mainsail Quantum 57sqm
In each hull companionway there is a manual Whale
Genoa Quantum 39 sqm (120 percent)
Gusher pump with pickup low in each hull. Electric bilge
Gennaker (if supplied) 94 sqm
pumps with alarms are provided for each hull and for each
Engines standard 2 x 21hp (15kW) Yanmar
engine room. Plus there is a roving back deck pump with
Engine options 2 x 29hp (21kW) Yanmar (fitted to test boat)
long pickup capable of reaching any part of either hull.
Propellers fixed two-blade
Gas is stowed in a back deck locker in either two 4.5kg
Propeller option Gori two-blade folding
bottles or a single 9kg one. If the latter, like the test boat,
Alternators 2 x 80 amphour
you can keep a spare in one of the forward deck lockers
Alternator regulator Xantrex smart three-stage
adjacent the anchor winch. The keels are sacrificial. A fine
Anchor winch Horizontal Quick “Hector” HC1012D,
idea. Damage them in a severe rock or coral grounding
warping drum,1000 watt, 400kg max
and you can choose to either replace or repair. And hulls
working load, 130kg normal working load
are of composite GRP sandwich with vacuum-bonded
Fuel 350L std in aluminium tanks
balsa core. An isophthalic outer layer protects the
Water 780L std in rotomoulded plastic
underwater hull sections from hydrolysis and osmosis.
Holding tank 54L stainless adjacent each head (27 flushes)
With the boat’s exceptional load-carrying capacity (see
Construction composite GRP sandwich,
break-out specs box) beam is carried well aft. And this
vacuum-bonded balsa core
results in roomier then average engine compartments.
Mast, boom Sparcraft with Antal mast-slider
I hopped down into one and found I could sit and work
system, slab-reefing
comfortably on all four sides of the engine. The builders,
Furler Profurl C420
varying from their past practice, have such confidence in
this new design never capsizing that they have chosen not
Architect/Designer Gino Morelli and Peter Melvin
to offer an escape hatch either as standard or as an option.
Builder Robertson and Caine, Cape Town, South Africa
Owners of the test boat, Linda and Paul, said they had
complete confidence in the boat and that departure from
Boat supplied by:
the boat in that extreme event would be straightforward,
Leopard Catamarans Australia Leopard Catamarans Australia
via swimming through the saloon doorway. More to the
Level 30, AMP Place, Port Marina Drive,
safety point a cat expert reiterated the need for owners to
10 Eagle St Brisbane 4000 Bundaberg 4670
retro-fit jackstays under the bridgedeck and to choose a
bright non-sea-coloured antifouling — like red — to cater
Website www.leopardcatamarans.com.au
for that notional one-in-a-million chance.
Email sales@leopardcatamarans.com.au
Phone 61 422 638 157 or toll-free in Australia 1300 661 321
Summary
This is a state-of-the-art cruising catamaran. It offers real
value through production volume, comparatively low South
African labour costs, vast evolutionary catamaran experience
of the builders, valuable cross-fertilisation with the charter
market and heaps of customisation options at good prices for
the prospective owner.

Roger Priest
Roger sails weekends in his Hartley 38, goes to sea LEFT Standard headsail
regularly with the Navy Reserve in Torres Strait, does curves 40°-135°,
maritime asset management as his current job, and optimal around 70°-90°.
has had many years in the past as both a civilian and Gennaker cuts in at 80°
naval hydrographic surveyor. and greater.

60 July 2009