Leopard 3

When Englishman Mike Slade wanted to build his latest Maxi Leopard 3, he came to McConaghy's. With the immediate success and proven reliability of canting keel super-maxis Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats X1, McConaghys experience in constructing specialized hulls, foils, steering systems and composite components enabled us to construct one of the most technologically complex yachts afloat.

The Farr design Leopard 3 is a Mega Maxi, designed and constructed to break records, then seamlessly move into charter mode. Its dimensions of 30 m length, (including a fixed bowsprit of 4.5 m) plus rig height of 47 m provide an enormous sail area, combined with its beam of 6.8m, canting keel and twin hydraulic dagger-boards, converts this into massive power. Smashing the Rolex Fastnet record straight out of the box is a testament to the reliability and ingenuity of the team at McConaghys.

Following the launch of Leopard 3 and its successful record breaking Fastnet race victory, McConaghy Australia began tooling up for a female mould of a R/P TP65 Moneypenny for the successful United States yachtsman Jim Schwartz, which is to be launched in March 2008. Also under construction at our Mona Vale site is the latest yacht for the highly competitive New Zealand yachtsman Neville Crichton. More news to follow.