Franck Bauguil: Leading Leopard
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Having been with The Moorings as the Leopard Catamarans brand emerged then a merger with Sunsail created the world’s largest charter business, Travelopia’s Franck Bauguil has since spent the past two decades spearheading yacht ownership and product development for all three companies.
Interview: John Higginson; Photos: Leopard Catamarans / The Moorings / Sunsa
Franck Bauguil, Senior Vice President of Yacht Ownership & Product Development, Travelopia
Firstly, how did a trained economist with an MBA in International Finance end up joining the yachting industry in 1992?
Long story short, sailing for me started in South Brittany in France in the 1980s, mainly racing monohulls, where I got to see the first generation of racing catamarans like the Formula 40s, Jet Services series, the Trophée des Multicoques race and so on.
Once in the US and during and after my MBA, sailing was out of my mind until, by coincidence, I attended the Annapolis Sailboat Show in 1991. This is where I connected with a US dealer and with Fountaine Pajot, which wanted to enter the US market for the first time.
I started my own business representing Fountaine Pajot throughout the Americas from 1992 until 1996. Initially, my territory stretched from Canada to Chile. This was the beginning of Fountaine Pajot in the Americas and the early days of cruising catamarans on this side of the Atlantic.
You joined The Moorings in 1996 and have remained with the group ever since. Can you explain how your early years with The Moorings coincided with the development of Leopard Catamarans, which originated from sailing catamarans built by Robertson and Caine in the late 1990s and became a brand in 2000?
When I joined The Moorings, I was based in Paris as European Yacht Sales Director, and the company had already ordered 10 units of the Moorings 4500 from Robertson and Caine (based in Cape Town, South Africa). I relocated to Florida in 1998 and became responsible for Yacht Sales worldwide for The Moorings.
The Moorings 4600 is a charter-focused version of the Leopard 46 and available through The Moorings Yacht Ownership Program
The Moorings 4500 and later the Moorings 3800 and 4200 were sold through The Moorings Yacht Ownership Program. However, we started to see customers who loved the boats but wanted to own them privately, outside the programme. We sold a few boats in the US beginning in 2000, and the Leopard Catamarans brand was born.
How did the Leopard brand grow in the early period to become one of the ‘big three’ of cruising catamarans, alongside Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot?
Initially, the business was called Moorings Private Sales before evolving into Leopard Catamarans. We had no idea it would become such a large business. Expansion started in the US before extending into Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.
The growth was largely organic and progressive, driven by direct customer relationships and a unique distribution model that emphasised in-house sales, marketing, administration and service. This approach created a new distribution model within the industry, with most sales conducted directly with customers. We also appointed selected dealers and independent agents in strategic markets, and established regional management teams over time.
How did the cooperation with Simonis Voogd Yacht Design begin and how has it evolved?
Alex Simonis and Maarten Voogd have been involved since day one with the original Moorings 4500 and have remained our preferred naval architects ever since, aside from a brief interruption involving models such as the 44 and 38 introduced in 2009 and 2010, primarily for Sunsail.
The Moorings and Sunsail catamarans are based on Leopard models, all designed by Simonis Voogd and built by Robertson and Caine
The collaboration has expanded into power catamarans, resulting in significant gains in efficiency for both sail and power models. With the latest generation of yachts, we have seen further improvements in volume, comfort and performance.
Despite increased volume and displacement of the powercats, we have maintained the same engine sizes while achieving similar top speeds. Simonis Voogd has been instrumental in designing robust, efficient and high-performing cruising catamarans.
What was the reason for the merger of The Moorings and Sunsail charter companies, acquired by First Choice Holidays in 2005 and 2003 respectively, and what was your involvement?
The Moorings was part of Grand Expeditions, a group based in the US and owned by a US private equity firm. First Choice Holidays, a UK company, acquired Grand Expeditions in December 2005. First Choice already owned Sunsail (and Le Boat), while Grand Expeditions owned The Moorings.
I believe the primary reason for the acquisition was Sunsail’s financial and strategic challenges, combined with the desire to gain a larger share of the yacht charter market.
Sunsail, which includes a base in Phuket, offers a Yacht Ownership Program that works well for owners who go boating several weeks a year
As part of The Moorings Executive Team, I was fully involved in the merger, with a particular focus on fleet, product and yacht sales. I was then Sunsail’s VP of Yacht Ownership and Sales from 2006-07.
Since September 2007, you have been VP of Yacht Ownership and Product Development for both charter companies and Leopard, with all three owned by TUI from 2016 and then Travelopia (initially a division of TUI). For clarity, can you explain how Leopard – popular with private owners in Asia – cooperates with Sunsail and The Moorings, and supplies them with their charter-ready catamarans?
First Choice Holidays merged with the tourism division of TUI AG to form TUI Travel PLC. In 2017, TUI Travel sold its Specialist Holidays Group, operating under the Travelopia name, to KKR, which continues to own Travelopia today.
The Sunsail 465 is a five-cabin version of the Leopard 46; Sunsail charters offer a way for potential Leopard owners to test a model
In Asia, our primary activities revolve around the Sunsail charter base in Phuket and Leopard catamaran sales. Our regional office in Phuket offers an ownership programme for Sunsail yachts, manages Leopard distribution across the region, and operates our brokerage and pre-owned yacht business. The model combines direct ‘B2C’ sales with a network of agents and dealers throughout the region.
What are the benefits to owners of purchasing a Leopard catamaran through the Yacht Ownership programmes offered by Sunsail and The Moorings?
The Moorings and Sunsail Yacht Ownership Program is an easy way to own a yacht and is also an attractive solution for frequent charterers.
For someone using a yacht three to six weeks per year or more, the programme can make excellent financial and practical sense. For someone using a yacht only one or two weeks per year, and perhaps not every year, chartering is often the better option – preferably through The Moorings or Sunsail.
The 53PC is Leopard’s flagship powercat
Within the programme, all operating expenses are covered including dockage, insurance and maintenance. Owners incur no costs related to the operation of the yacht. In addition, The Moorings and Sunsail provide a fixed guaranteed monthly revenue.
In Thailand, due to flag restrictions, we offer a different structure based on a one-time initial payment. Either way, owners can enjoy usage of their own yacht or a sistership worldwide and can upgrade for a fee.
Unlike its traditional competitors, Leopard has continued to build both power and sailing models within the 40-55ft sector, enjoying success in both. How has Leopard’s production split between power and sail evolved over the decades?
The Moorings launched its first power catamaran in 2003, and the segment has continued to grow for both charter operations and private ownership.
Franck Bauguil (far left) joins sea trials of the Leopard 43 ahead of its world premiere at Cannes Yachting Festival 2026
The share of power catamarans has increased in recent years, although we are currently seeing a general slowdown across both sail and power segments. Nevertheless, sailing catamarans continue to represent the majority of Robertson and Caine’s production.
How does the Leopard 43, a world premiere at Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, differ to the 42 and embody the new generation of Leopard sail cats along with the 46 (2024) and 52 (2025)?
The Leopard 43 incorporates many of the latest innovations from the 46 and 52, particularly the open connection between the cockpit and the main saloon, as well as upgraded interior styling and finishes.
The cockpit-saloon-foredeck connection (above) and owner’s suite (below) on the Leopard 43
We’ve also introduced new features including an unobstructed 360-degree view from the main saloon, which has never been done before. Additional enhancements include subtly inverted bows and increased sail area, delivering even stronger sailing performance.
What are the notable advancements on the upgraded Leopard 53 Powercat, which had its world premiere at this year’s Miami International Boat Show before its Asia debut at the Singapore Yachting Festival?
The 53PC is the most successful power catamaran in the world with more than 150 units delivered. Its exterior design remains highly relevant today, and its ratio of horsepower, fuel consumption and speed remains unrivalled.
Leopard’s upgraded 53 Power was a world premiere in 2026
As a result, our focus has been on completely redesigning the interior and cockpit. Key improvements include a significantly larger opening between the aft cockpit and main saloon, upgraded materials and upholstery, enhancements to onboard systems, and the introduction of ‘Alfresco’ loose furniture in the cockpit to improve space utilisation and comfort.
The result is an exceptionally efficient power catamaran with outstanding seakeeping ability, combined with elevated comfort and aesthetics.
What makes the current generation of Leopard Powercats – the 40PC, 46PC and 53PC – special compared to competitors?
Leopard powercats are more efficient at all speeds and in all sea conditions while delivering a significantly more comfortable ride.
The Leopard 53 Powercat shown with the cockpit’s optional ‘Alfresco’ modular furniture setup
They maintain an exceptionally level running attitude from displacement speeds through more than 20 knots, without the pronounced transition hump seen in many competing designs.
They are proven bluewater vessels that are easy to handle and maintain. They continue to offer exceptional value for money compared with other catamarans and conventional motoryachts.
Finally, what makes Leopard catamarans and their ownership schemes so compelling for owners in an increasingly competitive and crowded multihull market?
It begins with ease of ownership, predictable costs and guaranteed revenue. More importantly, however, it’s the ability to enjoy the same yacht experience across more than 20 destinations worldwide, backed by a company that consistently honours its commitments.
Bauguil (third right) and friends on the Leopard 53 Power, which had its Asia debut at this year’s Singapore Yachting Festival
The Moorings pioneered yacht charter management programmes in the 1970s, and both The Moorings and Sunsail remain financially strong businesses in an industry where many competitors have come and gone over the years.
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