Design and Construction
Robertson & Caine built the 45 around production discipline honed by supplying one of the world's largest charter fleets. The yard was founded more than 30 years ago by John Robertson, with the charter relationship accelerating the engineering toward longevity and easy maintenance rather than racing performance. The arrival of Lex Raas, a Bénéteau group defector, as operational manager accelerated development and brought European production sensibilities to the South African build. Hull design priorities are apparent in the bridgedeck clearance: the bridgedeck sits at 0.91 meters, a meaningful figure for comfort underway in a chop. The contemporary design features an accessible sugarscoop stern and aft passerelle, arrangements that prove their worth in daily life at anchor and in port.
Rig and Handling
The Leopard 45 V1 carries what Multihulls World describes as a generous sail plan that defined the performance character of the generation. The helm station was designed with ergonomics in mind — the helm station is complete, and its ergonomics pleasant — though reviewers note that an electric winch for the mainsheet would prove practical, a hint that the original spec left some manual labor to the crew. The Moorings charter orientation meant the rig had to be manageable by bareboat charterers of varying experience, which shaped the balance between ease of handling and outright performance. Engine installation received careful attention: the engine compartment is clear, clean, and finished in gray topcoat, with a well-engineered inter-rudder linking rod and steering adjustment arrangement.
Cockpit and Social Layout
One of the more consequential design moves on the Leopard 45 was the treatment of the forward cockpit and cockpit-saloon connection. Opening the forward bulkhead, Leopard transgressed all the codes of good-thinking multihull design — a choice that proved enormously popular with charter guests and owners alike. The result is a second intimate cockpit that has become standard, suiting the requirements of users who want space to entertain and relax. Aft, the cockpit functions as a successful outdoor dining room connected to the inner table, with seating for a dozen people, a configuration that established the Leopard's reputation as one of the most sociable platforms on the water at its size.
Accommodations
Below decks the Leopard 45 delivers space that surprised reviewers accustomed to monohull proportions. The perception of space is remarkable on this 45, and the quality of cabinetmaking has regained the standard of work realized on the latest classic versions in birch. The owner's hull is particularly impressive: the volume is spectacular, the design emphasized by the good quality of the fittings, with the owner's cabin offering a good night's sleep on an excellent standard mattress. Bathrooms follow suit — the bathroom is superb, modern, bright and comfortable, with nothing to fault. The galley is oriented toward ease of use during passages: open to the front, the size of the worktops allows use as self-service areas, and the cook can operate in a relaxed atmosphere without being isolated from the rest of the crew. Guest cabins also benefit from superb facilities, and a three-cabin layout option provides flexibility for owners who want a larger dedicated guest space forward.
The Verdict
The Leopard 45 V1 is a charter-bred cruising catamaran that earned its reputation honestly — through sheer numbers deployed and the refinement that came from intensive real-world use. Its combination of a rationalization of functionalities and increased equipment born of the Moorings relationship means it arrived with more practical systems thinking than many comparable contemporaries. The social layout, bridgedeck clearance, and sugarscoop accessibility remain compelling. Its weaknesses are mostly the flip side of its strengths: a charter-optimized spec means the original rig and winch package was sized for manageability rather than performance, and buyers of older examples should budget for electrical and mechanical updates commensurate with a boat that spent its working life in the tropics.
Pros
- High bridgedeck clearance at 0.91 m reduces slamming underway
- Accessible sugarscoop and aft passerelle ease daily marina and anchor life
- Generous cockpit-saloon connection with seating for a dozen
- Remarkable interior volume with quality cabinetwork in the owner's hull
- Practical galley layout designed for passage-making self-sufficiency
Cons
- Original mainsheet setup benefits from an electric winch upgrade
- Charter-optimized rig prioritizes manageability over upwind performance
- Older examples may require significant systems overhaul after years of intensive tropical use
