Leopard 40 # 110
True Star
Cape to Bahia race report
As most of us South African sailors are aware, in the summer months we can catch a blistering ride up the West African coast on the prevailing South Easter. Make no mistake, we did! Under 2nd reef and a storm jib we clocked
at least a dozen instances of 20.4 knots, a sixpack of 20.8 knots and a monster single of 21.7 knots, surfing down waves, wheel in hand. The yacht dealt with this like a charm, she bucked the minimum amount, always managed to keep her bows well out of the water even coming off huge surfs and despite 5 to 6 meter holes in the drink her mark 2 rudders kept us on track more than adequately. The helm station proved to be ergonomically well laid out, visibility is good and controls well organized and within reach. 
We experienced an upwind blast of around four days, logging in excess of 210 nautical miles per day, an average of 8.75 knots of boatspeed for nearly 100 hours on the same tack, no major trim or sail changes called for. The Leopard 40 was a revelation, taking the beating (no pun intended) in her stride and performing so well that we lost no ground to some fast 42 monohulls and indeed even to a 52 foot multihull stripped out sled!
Sailing under Gennaker also brought a new dimension for me, accustomed to a more traditional pole and guy set-up. I was impressed how close to the wind we could hold a 140m2 kite and full main. We were often at an apparent 70deg wind angle and able to generate enough wind even in very light airs, often exceeding the 10 knot mark in around 4 knots of true wind. Fantastic!
Under Gennaker and full main the 40 becomes a real blast to sail, there were times when the skipper and I fought over the wheel, each itching to outdo the other. The mainsail powers up very quickly as it’s a seriously big rag! At only one point of sail, when the breeze comes from aft of 150 degrees and in very light air the mainsail becomes a bother, blanketing much of the Gennaker’s air flow. With care, colorful language and good trim it’s an entirely manageable situation, contrary to what I have heard. As soon as there is a reasonable amount of wind, the main and gennaker set stunningly, making sailing her really awesome. As soon as we feel more than around 12 knots of true wind (I’m guessing here) the ship is on rails, steer consistently, trim well and she flies.
I have been told the 40 is light-footed to the point where she has been known to fly a hull. I feel this is totally unfounded, we sailed her really hard sometimes, to the point where the gennaker’s flapping luff tape bangs loudly when resetting and the leeward hull is well dug in, ploughing down 5 meter swells and surfing at sometimes sustained 12.4 knots, no indication of instability, just a feeling that this catamaran is actually responsive and wants to be raced. (Mark 2) Rudder response is adequate for a vessel like this, I get the feeling input is translated into action a little late sometimes but then we are not dealing with an open 60 sled here!
Life on board is superb, with a well sorted galley and the ability to brace against bucking and heaving very nicely makes cooking even in a storm a no sweat thing to do. There is enough locker space and the wash-up is a doddle.
Well, it turns out we did find the parking lot in the South Atlantic, as did most of us, we endeavoured however and I am happy to report an eventual handicap victory in the rally fleet of 8 catamarans (1 dns), we crossed the line a mere 15 hours behind the 52ft stripped out sled and 24 hours before the next finisher, another Leopard 40, which used her engines more than 30 hours over the allowed 200 nm, which we did not even reach (179nm)!
In summation, the Leopard was an overall pleasure; she is sea-kindly and fast, very fast! She is predictable and has a wide “groove” on most points of sail. The silence the bridgedeck is welcome and the general layout well conceived and thoroughly engineered.