2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 vs 2019 Leopard 45 — Comparison
2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51
2019 Leopard 45
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 | 2019 Leopard 45 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Fountaine Pajot | Leopard |
| Year | 2020 | 2019 |
| Type | Catamaran | Catamaran |
| Country | France | South Africa |
| Designer | Berret-Racoupeau | Simonis Voogd |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 15.40 m (50.5 ft) | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| LWL | 14.70 m (48.2 ft) | 13.00 m (42.7 ft) |
| Beam | 8.20 m (26.9 ft) | 7.60 m (24.9 ft) |
| Draft | 1.35 m (4.4 ft) | 1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 18,000 kg (39,683 lbs) | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) |
| Ballast | — | — |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 140.0 m² (1,507 ft²) | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Mini Keel | Mini Keel |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 2 HP | 2 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 720 L (190.2 gal) | 480 L (126.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 1200 L (317.0 gal) | 800 L (211.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 12 | 10 |
| Cabins | 5 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 and 2019 Leopard 45 represent two takes on catamaran-rigged sailing. The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 is a modern design by Fountaine Pajot from France, while the 2019 Leopard 45 is a modern offering from Leopard from South Africa. The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 was penned by Berret-Racoupeau. The 2019 Leopard 45 was designed by Simonis Voogd.
In terms of size, the 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 measures 15.40m (50.5ft) overall with a beam of 8.20m, compared to the 2019 Leopard 45 at 13.72m (45.0ft) with a 7.60m beam. The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 is 1.68m longer than the 2019 Leopard 45. The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 displaces approximately 38% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.70 and 140.0 m² of sail area. The 2019 Leopard 45, with an SA/D of 18.74 and 102.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 7.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 1.25). The 2019 Leopard 45 has a comfort ratio of 7.7 and a capsize screening value of 1.30. The ballast ratios are 0.0% for the 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 and 0.0% for the 2019 Leopard 45, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 provides 12 berths in 5 cabins with 1200L of water capacity and 720L of fuel. The 2019 Leopard 45 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 800L water and 480L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2019 Leopard 45 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2020 Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.