Leopard Catamarans Unveils the New Leopard 43, Replacing the 42

Leopard Catamarans publicly unveiled the Leopard 43 on March 16, 2026, confirming the retirement of the Leopard 42 after 207 examples built. Developed with Robertson & Caine and naval architects Simonis Voogd, the new boat carries a measured LOA of 42'7" (12.98 m) and is priced from €599,000 ex-tax.

The performance story centers on the rig. A mast nearly one meter taller than the 42's delivers a 12% increase in upwind sail area, backed by a wave-piercing hull with reverse bows and a fully redesigned sail plan. Multihulls World reports mainsail area at 784 or 825 sq ft (72.8 or 76.6 m²) depending on configuration, with a 53 m² genoa. Displacement comes in at 32,475 lbs (14.73 t) on a 23-foot beam, with twin engine options of 45 or 57 HP.

The exterior breaks from the 42 most visibly at the stern, where an elegant cutaway in the deckline gives the new boat a cleaner profile, and at the saloon, where wraparound windows appear completely uninterrupted from outside, delivering near 360-degree interior visibility. Those styling cues align the 43 with the larger Leopard 46 and 52 already in the range.

Robertson & Caine retained what worked on the 42: the fully sheltered aft cockpit, the lounge deck adjacent to the raised helm station, and the forward door. The additions are more ambitious. A forward-positioned coachroof lounge improves communication between spaces, a new upholstered settee in the forward cockpit eases foredeck access, and a sliding glass door maintains the indoor-outdoor flow Leopard owners expect. A small lounge area on the foredeck rounds out the deck layout.

The energy system is the sharpest departure. Integrated solar panels across the coachroof generate up to 1,365W, a figure substantial enough to eliminate the traditional stainless-steel arch entirely. The boat carries 158 US gallons (600 L) of fuel and 174 US gallons (660 L) of water, with an air draft of 71 feet (21.61 m).

Charter operators are already written into the model's rollout. The Leopard 43 will enter Moorings fleets as the Moorings 4300, available in three- and four-cabin configurations, and Sunsail fleets as the Sunsail 434 in a four-cabin layout. For owners commissioning a private boat, the 43 represents the entry point into Leopard's current sailing range, sitting below the 46 and 52 in a lineup that now shares a consistent aesthetic language across all three sizes.