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hile Dan Leech is a qualiied naval architect with a background in
competitive sailing, he understands that the commercial market
is weighted towards powerboats.
And as most boat owners are averse to heeling, he’s specialised
in catamaran designs. he stable comprises several variants
ranging from 8.25m to 9.75m in length, and include both fuel-
eicient, semi-displacement models as well as performance designs.
What makes them particularly attractive are their CNC-cut components, which
make for a very accurate build and considerably fewer labour hours. All designs are
available as a complete package, suitable for owner-builders who have the time and
skills to do it themselves. But the more popular option is a professional build, either to
hull-and-decks speciication or a inished turnkey package.
Ostra – a L825 performance power cat – is one of Leech’s smaller designs. Owner
Daryl Wislang is a professional sailor, currently on board Dongfeng in the Volvo
round the world race. Strangely enough, he also likes spending his recreation time on
the water, although after the rigours of the Southern Ocean he wanted an easily-
managed, comfortable vessel.
He has two young children and a catamaran ofers beneits that appeal to families- speciically, stability and roominess that only come with a considerably larger
W
A family-friendly power cat cruiser, the Leech 825
was the design of choice for international ocean sailor
Daryl Wislang and his family.