ICAP Leopard starts bid for transatlantic record

Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard, the Farr designed 100-foot super maxi yacht which will be in Malta next Autumn for the Rolex Middle Sea Race, left New York on Monday in an attempt to break the monohull transatlantic record.

With an incredible Rolex Fastnet Race record under her belt, ICAP Leopard has already proven herself to be one of the fastest yachts on the circuit.

Sailing with a crew of 12, ICAP Leopard could shave several hours off the current 2,925-nautical-mile monohull record for a yacht with power-assisted winches.

The record of eight days, three hours and 29 minutes was set by Phocea in July 1988.

While Slade is confident that ICAP Leopard can break the record, the crew had only a tight weather window as ICAP Leopard is committed to racing on the British circuit this summer.

"The transatlantic record is one of the 'holy grails' of yachting and something we have been keen to attempt ever since we did the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge aboard Leopard of London in 2005," Slade told reporters before leaving New York.

Upon ICAP Leopard's arrival in the UK, Slade plans to race the superyacht on the British circuit, competing in the Round Ireland Race and the JP Morgan Round the Island Race, where the maxi yacht made her debut last year.

She will then compete in several European events including the Cowes Dinard Race, the Channel Race, the Rolex Maxi Worlds, Les Voiles de St Tropez and the Rolex Middle Sea Race which starts from Marsamxett Harbour on October 18.