This 9-meter boat is equipped with a powerful engine, giving it great versatility for optimizing sea outings. Oliver, who lives on the Caribbean coast of Martinique, shares his impressions of his boat with us.
A boat to enjoy the West Indies
Oliver has been living in Martinique for over 20 years, and has extensive experience of the sea. After sailing a transatlantic race with his father, as well as numerous cruises, Oliver took the plunge and bought his first motorboat, as he explains: "I opted for a motorboat rather than a sailboat because of the ease of getting out and the spontaneity it brings. It requires less anticipation"
His first choice was a Beneteau Flyer 8.5 Sundeck, which he kept for 8 years. As his family grew, so did his desire to sail, and Oliver set his sights on the Leader 9.0 CC, which he bought off-plan. Launched in 2018, it succeeds the Leader 8.5 CC in the Vendée-based manufacturer's catalog.
Versatile use
Based in Fort de France, Oliver is an assiduous sailor, who sails his Leader for around a hundred hours a year, according to a schedule he describes to us: "I use my boat 60% for pleasure boating: swimming, short cruises or anchoring. 35% for deep-sea fishing. And 5% for training SNSM volunteers."
Olivier is also one of the three patrons of the Fort de France station, which employs around a hundred volunteers. And his Leader is used as a "breastplate" boat for training local lifeguards.
Excellent behavior
Powered by 2 Mercury blocks, each developing 225 hp, Oliver's Leader has the maximum authorized power. And he has nothing but praise for the qualities of his hull: "In rough seas, I feel very safe. It offers a very good passage through the sea. Almost too good, in fact! I have a little less feeling than with my previous boat, which was more playful but less secure"
Oliver is also very happy with the versatility that his Leader brings him:
"It's a Swiss Army knife that gives me great modularity. It comfortably accommodates 8 people at anchor, thanks in particular to its large sunbathing areas. It's easy to switch from one activity to another. At night, it's also very pleasant, as particular care has been taken with the on-board lighting"
On the other hand, he also lists a few shortcomings:
"The level of finish is not up to scratch for a unit invoiced at over 200,000 euros. I don't sail in rough seas, but I still have a lot of cracks, and the hull-deck connection isn't perfect. I also have a few problems with screws, which break or are undersized. But other worries encountered during the first sailings have been well taken care of by Jeanneau's after-sales service"
Another positive point in choosing a Leader is the large community of users, who frequently exchange information via the Jeanneau Leader Club, which has 6,500 members.
Changes to overnight moorings
Oliver brought along an option to make the most of a night on board. Rather than lock himself in the cabin under the console, he set up a large tent on the foredeck
"This solution gives me several advantages. The cushion in the forward sundeck is more comfortable than the mattress in the cabin. And given the temperature in our area, we sleep much better on deck. The tent completely closes off the foredeck and has a few windows, perfect for enjoying the anchorage!"
