On a breezy day at this 12 months’s Palm Seashore Worldwide Boat Present in March, Leopard’s sales space was filled with stylish, pastel-clad guests desperate to tour the yachts on show. As the latest of the model’s three energy catamarans, the Leopard 40 Powercat was once more within the highlight.

The mannequin had its world premiere on the Miami Worldwide Boat Present the earlier month, whereas hull two was allotted for the mannequin’s European debut on the Worldwide Multihull Present on France’s south coast in April.

On the Palm Seashore present, the 40-footer attracted households and {couples}, who took turns to discover the options of the thrilling new catamaran designed to make thrilling journey goals come true.

A household in pale pink, floral outfits hopped onto the yacht to examine the ethereal, light-filled saloon. With a myriad storage areas tucked neatly in a number of places, throughout the cosy cabins and beneath the captain’s seat, the mannequin ensures these on board journey in fashion and luxury.

Extra Than Only a Cat

Designed by Alexander Simonis of Simonis Voogd Design, the 40PC is surprisingly roomy, notable for an nearly 22ft beam and a spacious flybridge that Leopard describes as “the biggest ever seen on a 40ft vessel”.

Nevertheless, every of its social areas — aft cockpit, flybridge, saloon, foredeck — basically provides an intimate setting for a gaggle of six, compared to the 46PC and flagship 53PC fashions within the powercat collection, which each cater to bigger teams of eight or so.

Like its large sisters, the 40PC options sharp strains and a contemporary design, the place glorious options embody making the engine rooms simply accessible.

From a distance, the cat seems able to ship a modern, environment friendly and high-performance expertise, and it delivers on expectations. Outfitted with twin 250hp engines as customary, it provides the choice to improve to 320hp or 370hp engines, which allow the powercat to achieve over 20 knots and cruise at about 17 knots.

To get aboard, company can use both of the symmetrical staircases on each side of the aft platform, flanked by two shore powerlines. The cockpit has a set, forward-facing couch and a desk, with foldable director’s chairs providing additional seating.

Facet decks provide entry across the boat, with grabrails on each side of the superstructure rising visitor security together with the wraparound double railings. The foredeck may also be reached by way of the ahead saloon door, a particular function of Leopard fashions since 2010.

The bow space is centrally fitted with sunpads, together with a single to starboard and a double to port, each with fitted headrests. The sunbathing space extends to the bow, the place no less than two individuals can lie horizontally.

In a intelligent piece of design, there’s ample house beneath the gentle sunpads for storage. That is ultimate for contemporary travellers who wish to entertain company whereas preserving the looks of the yacht minimal, refined and tidy.

Arguably the most effective outside space is the flybridge, which is accessed from the cockpit by port-side stairs. The steps lead as much as the ahead finish of the flybridge, the place the higher helm is to starboard and has a double bench seat with a moveable backrest.

The helm contains a management panel fitted with Raymarine and Yanmar shows, whereas there’s a low-set windscreen in entrance and on each side of the flybridge.

To starboard is the primary social space, a C-shaped couch with a desk, which is out there in teak or fibreglass and is fitted with a number of cup holders, permitting company to soundly stow chilly drinks on a sizzling day.

To port is a moist bar and a double couch ahead, permitting for 4 sides of seating, ultimate for dialog and cocktails. There’s additionally a big, clear space aft that can be utilized how the proprietor sees match. General, the flybridge offers a cushty setting for enjoyable and having fun with the ocean breeze, providing 360-degree visibility to make it the yacht’s prime location for panoramic views.

One other key function is the mannequin’s emphasis on security, and the pink label with the phrase ‘Fireplace’ is current on many cupboard space surfaces to point the place security gear is situated. Furthermore, some surfaces on the foredeck are hole to permit the swift drainage of water if a wave or spray lands on the bow.

Trendy Inside

The saloon may be accessed from the aft cockpit by a sliding door or from the foredeck by a ahead door. Beginning aft, the saloon consists of full-height refrigeration to starboard and an L-shaped galley to port, the place gear features a range, oven, sink, dishwasher, dish-drying rack and plenty of storage.

When mandatory, the dish-drying rack space may be transformed to make a double sink. Close by is a hidden counter that may be prolonged, with electrical sockets ultimate for plugging in a espresso machine. The cream-coloured countertop is refined and complicated.

When making ready meals or drinks, the galley offers a spacious space for entertaining company. The designers thoughtfully ensured easy accessibility to the facility controls close to the galley, so individuals can keep watch over the indications whereas within the space.

The ahead lounging space consists of an L-shaped couch to port plus a dealing with chair to the starboard, aft of the decrease helm, which has an adjustable backrest. Completed in elegant gray and cream tones, the inside options many massive home windows, offering a panoramic view of the ocean from the saloon and accentuating the ethereal feeling of the light-filled house.

The angle of the TV display screen, mounted on an extension arm mounted to the bulkhead, may be adjusted for these seated on the L-shaped couch or dealing with chair. The gentle carpet and the snug cloth of the pillows create a relaxed environment and a pleasant hub for dialog.

To starboard, the helm seat is supplied with cupboard space beneath. Furthermore, the Raymarine screens, joystick and monitoring system make sure the skipper is conscious of all the things that’s happening. The management panel permits the skipper to observe knowledge together with tank ranges, velocity and rather more.

Starboard stairs result in the full-length grasp stateroom, which begins aft with a forward-facing double mattress. The cabin additionally has a central desk beneath a big, adjustable TV, whereas ahead is a full-height cabinet, drawers on each side and extra storage earlier than an en-suite rest room with a big bathe within the forepeak.

The steps on the port aspect descend to the 2 visitor cabins, which every have an island mattress and a full size mirror, and share a toilet. In all of the cabins, the gentle, heat glow from the dimmable lights alongside the sides of the ceilings offers a comfortable feeling, whereas there are blinds on the home windows. Every cabin can also be outfitted with fire-safety gear.

All Leopard fashions, together with charter-specified variations branded for The Moorings and Sunsail, are inbuilt Cape City by Robertson & Caine, one in all South Africa’s main yacht builders.

Like its sister fashions, the 40PC is out there for constitution and personal house owners below a administration programme by The Moorings, whereas additionally providing essentially the most reasonably priced entry into Leopard’s famend powercat household.

This text first appeared on Yacht Fashion.

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