At 08h 58m 53sec local time, Mike Slade's new 100-foot super maxi crossed the finish line off the Plymouth breakwater under spinnaker, breaking the Rolex Fastnet Race monohull race record that has stood since 1999. With an elapsed time of 1 day, 20 hours, 18 minutes, the Bruce Farr-designed ICAP Leopard (GBR) chopped just under 9 hours off the record set by Ross Field on the 80-foot RF Yachting. Wind was southwest at 10-15 knots as the boat finished in a light rain and reduced visibility.
Only 10 miles behind was George David's 90-foot Rambler (USA), finishing at 09h 43m 21sec and also well within the previous record time. She currently leads the fleet overall on corrected time. Dockside in Plymouth, Slade was presented with a Rolex Yachtmaster timepiece in steel and platinum and the Erroll Bruce Cup for his Line Honours win by Lionel Schurch of Rolex SA and RORC Commodore David Aisher.
ICAP Leopard was launched in June 2007 and was sailing in only its first proper offshore race. Slade recounted a great race with the first day match-racing out of the Solent and along the coast with Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo (NZL) in 25 - 30 knots (with Alfa later retiring from the race). Slade said the worst of the weather was off the Lizard where, "we saw 40 knots, more in the gusts.it's at night, and it's hard to gauge the seas." He continued, "But the boat is very solid, you put water (ballast) in the back and lift the bow.it's like a Volvo 70 stretched out to 100 feet. We never had to back off, on the contrary, you can push the boat."
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