Setting a US to UK Sailing Record? New York

The Farr designed 100 foot super maxi yacht ICAP Leopard 3 sailed off at 00:01 GMT yesterday (May 27), officially beginning her transatlantic speed record attempt from Ambrose Light in New York. Sailing with a crew of 12, ICAP Leopard is aiming to shave several hours off the current 2,925 nautical mile World Speed Sailing Records Council (WSSRC) monohull record for a yacht with power-assisted winches. To beat the current record of eight days, three hours and 29 minutes set by 246 foot yacht Phocea in July 1988, the yacht will need to cross the finish line at Lizard Point Lighthouse in the UK before 03:30 GMT on Wednesday June 4th.

Chris Sherlock, captain aboard ICAP Leopard, commented: “We got off to a fairly quick start from Ambrose Light, passing it just after midnight (UTC), doing around 27 knots. It has been a very fast, wet and windy first 12 hours. We are all settling into our watch system, trying to eat the required amount of freeze dried food to refuel and then rest before getting drenched for another four hour stint on deck with the boat speed anywhere between 20 and 30 knots." “The forecast for the next few days is for more of the same and from then on we are in the hands of the weather gods to get through a ridge with not a great deal of wind in it. We are hoping things will change by the time we get there.”

Due to ICAP Leopard’s busy schedule, the crew was only graced with a five day weather window in which to begin this record attempt. Owner Mike Slade is confident that ICAP Leopard can break the record however, hoping that the window the crew has chosen will provide them with consistent wind until the finish.

We'll keep you updated here at YachtPals.com as Chris and his crew sail that 100 foot yacht across the Atlantic.

-- ICAP Leopard Crew --

1. Chris Sherlock – Australia
2. Paul Stanbridge - UK
3. Mark Thomas – Australia
4. Tim Sellars - Australia
5. Zane Gills - Australia
6. Barnaby Henshaw Depledge – UK
7. Ross Monson – Ireland
8. Paul Quinn – New Zealand
9. Gian Ahluwalia – Argentinia
10. Ben Morrison Jack - Australia
11. Jonathan Carter - Bermuda
12. Matthew Richardson - UK

READ MORE ABOUT THE MEGA-YACHT ICAP LEOPARD

- KH