Leopard cats at Sanctuary Cove

South Africa's largest boat builder Robertson and Caine will be exhibiting the Leopard 39 and Leopard 46 catamarans at this week’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat show opening Thursday May 24.

Bucking the trend in boat building, the Robertson and Caine factory in Woodstock near Cape Town CBD is said to be presently building and launching three cats per week. Evidently, the composite E-glass and end-grain balsa multis have been very well received overseas.

The smallest cat in the range, the Leopard 39 picked up multiple awards in America back in 2010. The cat comes in three or four cabin configurations, with a welcome galley-up saloon design.

The 46, which was nominated as Boat of the Year by Cruising World magazine, features a raised helm station in the hardtop, lots of glazing around the saloon to illuminate the living areas, and a galley-up layouts. There are also three or four cabins accommodation plans.

Meanwhile, the latest models, the all-new Leopard 44 (pictured) that is said to introduce unique features to sailing cats, will make her Australian debut at this Sydney International Boat Show from August 2-6.

The Leopard 44 has already received multiple awards from the U.S. sailing press including SAIL Magazine’s Best Boat 2012 and Cruising World magazine’s Boat of the Year 2012 in the Multihull and Import categories. 

The most significant modification on the Leopard 44 is the addition of the open forward cockpit with direct access from the saloon. Unique to production catamarans, this feature offers increased vision, ventilation, and a significant new approach adding increased living space in an ergonomic and safe design feature.

The unique foredeck lounging area has a fixed overhead bimini for protection against the elements, forward door for direct access to saloon, splash cover, and drain. The forward door combined with large portlights in the windscreen ventilate the saloon, even during a tropical downpour as the forward bimini prevents water entry.

Extra effort has been made to ensure water tightness in heavy sea conditions. In addition, there is provision for installing a splash cover to deflect the worst seas from entering the cockpit.

Designed by Morrelli & Melvin, the new Leopard 44 comes with two spacious guest cabins to port, while the starboard hull is entirely dedicated to the luxurious and spacious owner’s suite.

Over 800 Leopard cats have now sailed more than seven-million miles on the world’s oceans, says Robertson and Caine, which also makes powercat versions of the 39 and 47. More from local Leopard agent David Flynn, phone 1300 661 321, Email sales@leopardcatamarans.com.au, see www.leopardcatamarans.com.au.