Leopard 52: A robust cruising yacht with solid sailing performance put to the test
Michael Good
· 31.07.2026
The market for mass-produced cruising catamarans is smaller than the growing presence of multihulls in marinas, charter bases and at boat shows might suggest. Although there are now a wide variety of brands and designs, many manufacturers produce only small numbers or cater to niche markets rather than the mass market. Essentially, the cruising catamaran segment is dominated by a handful of shipyards. The industry’s heavyweights are Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Bali, Nautitech and Leopard.
Other passenger catamarans in this size category:
Leopard Catamarans occupies a unique position in this regard. As the only mass-producer of cruising catamarans amongst the major manufacturers, the brand does not build its boats in Europe, but in South Africa at Robertson and Caine. The shipyard in Cape Town is the construction partner behind Leopard’s catamarans. Through the charter operators The Moorings and Sunsail, these same vessels frequently find their way into international charter fleets, often under different branding and as part of attractive buy-charter schemes. At the same time, they are sold directly to private owners under the ‘Leopard’ name; this segment accounts for around half of the brand’s total production output.
The hull, deck, cabin superstructure and all GRP components are manufactured by Robertson and Caine using the vacuum infusion process. In addition, the shipyard incorporates a solid steel cross-beam into the forward beam of all new models in the current range. This is intended to provide additional structural rigidity and reduce torsion between the hulls. The ballast-free keel stubs are simply bonded to the hull; they are not bolted or laminated to it. In the event of grounding, they are designed to shear off without damaging the structure. Nevertheless, they are built robustly enough that the catamaran can be parked on them without any problems.
With the new Leopard 52, the shipyard is now replacing its previous flagship, the Leopard 50, of which just under 250 units were built. One of its distinctive features was that it was available in two variants: either with a flybridge lounge or in a slightly sportier version without a top deck. On the new 52, the spacious retreat high above the water is now a standard feature of the base model, with no alternatives. The basic design by Simonis Voogd Design remains largely unchanged in its overall concept, though it has been further refined in terms of hydrodynamics and structural engineering. The new catamaran is 30 centimetres longer and 10 centimetres wider than its predecessor.
Under sail with solid figures
The waters off Saint-Raphaël in southern France offer almost ideal conditions for the test. Winds of up to force 4 and moderate swells provide a good basis for assessing the new model’s potential. On the reach, the catamaran performs well at 6.5 knots on a 50-degree angle to the true wind. More dynamism comes into play with the Code Zero unfurled. On a half-wind course, speeds of just under 9 knots are achievable. For a cruising catamaran of this size and design, these are certainly solid performance figures. However, these must be put into context: the test boat is fitted with an upgraded set of laminate sails, including a square-headed mainsail.
The South African vessel also surprises with its lively handling during manoeuvres. Turns can be executed swiftly without losing much speed. And this vessel, which is comparatively heavy with a total weight of over 20 tonnes, responds pleasingly quickly and directly to the helm. At the same time, the steering is not particularly impressive from a mechanical point of view. The transmission feels stiff, and there is hardly any feedback from the rudder. Whilst the Leopard 52 can be kept neatly on course, steering it is not much fun.
Well organised in the cockpit, but without a traveller
A self-tacking jib is not offered, even as an option; the overlapping genoa remains the standard choice. Nevertheless, manoeuvres and trimming are straightforward. This is aided by the three large, powerful winches in the cockpit and the well-thought-out layout of all the fittings. However, given the high loads on the sheets in this sporty sail plan, electric winches are recommended.
A traveller for the mainsail is not available on the Leopard. According to the shipyard’s representatives, this would require extensive structural reinforcements in the roof, which would result in additional weight. Instead, the catamaran is fitted with two separate traveller systems, which allow the mainsail to be trimmed very efficiently. However, the effort involved in handling the sails is considerably greater than with a traveller, as both sheet lines must be readjusted after every manoeuvre to achieve the optimum trim.
The Leopard 52 in detail
Technical specifications of the Leopard 52
- Designer: Simonis Voogd Design
- CE design category: A
- Fuselage length:15.75 m
- Total length:15.80 m
- Waterline length:15.31 m
- Width: 8.16 m
- Draught: 1.62 m
- Mast height above water level: 24.71 m
- Theoretical fuselage speed: 9.5 kn
- Weight: 20.5 t
- Mainsail (standard): 98.0 m²
- Furling genoa (107 %): 70.3 m²
- Code Zero: 88.5 m²
- Engine (Yanmar): 42 kW/57 PS
- Fuel tanks: 2 x 410 litres
- Fresh water tanks: 2 x 350 l
- Waste tank: 230 l
- Batteries: 2 × 96 + 4 × 180 Ah
Rig and sails
The aluminium mast is supplied by Z-Spars. The set of basic Dacron sails (full-battened mainsail and genoa) is included in the base price. A larger mainsail with a square-head design or high-performance laminate sails are available as options, as is the bowsprit for a gennaker or Code Zero.
The second part focuses on the new layout options, the quality of the fit-out, the on-board technology and the Leopard 52’s price point.
Is the Leopard 52 heading in exactly the right direction for modern cruising catamarans, or is its sailing character being lost in the focus on space and comfort? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology