ICAP Leopard closes on Transatlantic Speed Record
'ICAP Leopard www.leopard3.com/'
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ICAP Leopard, the 100 foot super maxi yacht owned by Mike Slade, is currently on course to break the transatlantic speed record - Leopard must complete her 2,925 nautical mile crossing by 04:30 BST on Wednesday 4 June, in order to break the current record held by 246 foot yacht Phocea in July 1988.
Having crossed the official start line off Ambrose Light, New York, at 00:01 GMT on Tuesday 27th May, ICAP Leopard has negotiated icebergs, freezing sea temperatures and sleeping whales thus far. ICAP Leopard looks set to smash the record which has stood for the last 20 years; a second record for the Farr designed maxi yacht, which broke the Rolex Fastnet Race Record last year.
From onboard ICAP Leopard, Boat Captain Chris Sherlock commented today:
'The past 24 hours have been good, with very few sail changes, meaning that the crew is well rested and trimming hard. With more wind on the way, and with a gradual increase in pressure forecast for the next 24 to 36 hrs, our speed averages should increase from here to the finish. Hopefully, this will give us the time we need to beat the record. It is going to be a nail biter!'
It has been an eventful week for the crew aboard ICAP Leopard. They had a fantastic start, averaging between 20 and 30 knots for the first few days. As ICAP Leopard headed north-east, she soon entered iceberg territory and it was an iceberg sighting by another vessel that threatened to scupper the record attempt.
Spotted almost 100nm to the south of their track during the hours of darkness, the crew decided to alter course. Whilst this could have jeopardised the record attempt, the crew's safety was top priority and the navigators worked on re-routing the boat around the potential hazard.
Once safely past, ICAP Leopard enjoyed boat speeds of up to 34 knots in brilliant sunshine - perfect record breaking conditions. However, on Saturday 31 May she hit a large sunfish which became wrapped around the rudder. Fortunately the rudder was undamaged, but the crew had to stop the boat, take down the sails and remove the sunfish before they could continue.
The record ICAP Leopard aims to beat is eight days, three hours and 29 minutes, the 2,925 nautical mile World Speed Sailing Records Council (WSSRC) monohull record for a yacht with power-assisted winches, set by 246 foot yacht Phocea in July 1988.
by Kate Fairclough 
nedlands, WA
