Leopard 45

A proper owner’s catamaran

The Leopard 45/V1 was the first model manufactured in a production run by the South African builder starting in 1997. It has contributed significantly to the discovery of the catamaran concept in Moorings charter bases around the world. Today, its successor has taken the boat of the year title in its category, awarded by Cruising World at the Annapolis Show, and seems determined to get in on the non-charter market.

A generous sail plan

Without losing any of its own characteristics, the silhouette of the Leopard 45 joins the trends of European design

The accessibility of the sugarscoops and the aft passerelle is neat, for a comfortable and safe life in port and at anchor

A very contemporary design and a seductive appearance. Note the bridgedeck clearance of 0.91m

The helm station is complete, and its ergonomics pleasant. An electric winch for the mainsheet would prove practical

Opening the forward bulkhead, Leopard transgressed all the codes of "good thinking" multihull design, the perception of this second intimate and nice cockpit has become standard, suiting the requirements of many users: to have fun and to entertain others!

Successful outdoor dining room, connected to the inner table, this space creates seating for a dozen people for dinner

Panoramic visibility, depth of field and light characteristics of the new 45! Note the deckhead hatch (with a blackout blind)

The perception of space is remarkable on this 45, the quality of cabinetmaking has regained the standard of work realized of the latest classic versions in birch

The galley is open to the front; the size of the worktops will allow use of these spaces as self-service areas. This will simplify the role of the cook who will be able to carry on in a relaxed atmosphere when cruising (there are no fiddles, so non-slip m

The owner's cabin for a good night’s sleep on an excellent (standard) mattress

A superb modern bathroom, bright and comfortable, nothing to fault here!

The volume in the owner’s hull is spectacular, the design emphasized by the good quality of the fittings

The guest cabins also benefit from superb facilities

The port forward cabin in the 3-cabin version

A powerful engine neatly installed in a clear and clean engine compartment (gray topcoat). Note the inter-rudder linking rod and the steering adjustments

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Practical info

Boat Test price5.00€ Inc. tax

Purchase

Boat Test price5.00€ Inc. tax

Purchase

A South African builder on the world stage

The Woodstock yard near Cape Town was founded by John Robertson more than 30 years ago. Jerry Caine joined him as a partner in 1991. Since 1995, they have forged close ties with Moorings to supply the emerging catamaran charter market (Moorings then merged with Sunsail into an international travel group, thus creating a giant in the market). Logistics and customer knowledge (mainly American in the Caribbean at the beginning, now globalized) oriented the Leopard design towards a rationalization of functionalities and increased equipment (cold storage, air conditioning, electrical self-sufficiency). The arrival of Lex Raas (a Bénéteau group defector) as operational manager accelerated this development. The world's No. 1 charter company has led Robertson-Caine in their development and has allowed them to reach the top 3 of multihull builders. The experience of intensive use of ships, understanding of sailors' expectations and the availability of highly competitive production tooling logically motivates Moorings to regularly renew its range and diversify its commercial ambitions towards individual owners. It is no longer enough to convi...

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