New Transatlantic Speed Record
ICAP Leopard, the Farr designed 100 foot super maxi yacht owned by Mike Slade, has just broken another world sailing record! Boat captain Chris Sherlock and his crew sailed past Lizard Point Lighthouse, UK just a few hours ago, marking a new transatlatic speed record from Ambrose Light, US. This monohull sailing record was previouly held by the 246 foot yacht Phocea, and has stood for the last 20 years.
Sailing with a crew of 12, ICAP Leopard broke the current 2,925 nautical mile World Speed Sailing Records Council (WSSRC) monohull record for a yacht with power-assisted winches: 7 days 19 hours 20 minutes seconds over Phocea's 8 days 3 hours 29 minutes. Many of the same crew were onboard ICAP Leopard when she broke the Rolex Fastnet Record last year, and thus had experience sailing this yacht for her best speed.
Mike Slade, owner of the ICAP Leopard commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to get this Transatlantic record. Having only had a three day weather window in New York during which to leave, the weather Gods have been kind. This was a delivery without a full sail wardrobe and we almost lost a full day avoiding Southerly icebergs in the mid Atlantic, as well as experiencing a full on collision with a monstrous sunfish. We always knew it would be close, but that is the beauty of yacht racing, as you rely entirely on forces beyond your control to get you there. If it was easy everyone would be doing it!”
Slade now plans to race the ICAP Leopard super yacht on the British circuit, competing in the Round Ireland Race and the JP Morgan Round the Island Race, as well as several European events this summer.
Chris Sherlock, captain of the ICAP Leopard shares his notes with us from his record breaking trip across the Atlantic:
Day 1 - Tuesday 27 May
We got off to a fairly quick start from Ambrose light passing it just after Midnight GMT and doing around 27 knots. It has been a very fast wet and windy first 12 hours.
We are all settling into our watch system now, trying to eat the required amount of freeze dried food to refuel and then rest before getting drenched for another 4 hour stint on deck with the boat speed anywhere between 20 and 30 knots.
The weather 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."
Current Record Status – Approximately 50nm ahead
Day 2 - Wednesday 28 May
As we head to our ice waypoint the temperature has plummeted! We no longer have the warming effect of the gulf stream and so now the water is really cold for every dunking we get - which is every minute or two whilst on deck.
Downstairs has become pretty damp and with no way of warming it up it will be for a few days until we get any improvement on that front.
All the crew are travelling pretty well....normal aches and pains, drivers forearms are very tender from holding the wheel and the foredeck crew have their normal bruises from wrestling the sails. Last night we had a sail change plethora due to passing through a tiny bit of gulf stream kicking up breaking waves. We had difficulty slowing the boat down so had to keep reducing sail for safety.
All in all we are pretty happy with our state of play. Our motto being keep it safe and tidy and let this great yacht do what she likes to do – Go Fast!!!"
Current Record Status – Approximately 150nm ahead
Day 2 - Update - Updated at 22.00hrs GMT 28.05.08
We have just had an urgent EGC via Sat C telling us that a ship passed through our area at 12.00hrs GMT reporting an iceberg nearly 100nm to the south of our track. In normal circumstances if we were approaching in daylight we would have continued on our course and taken the risk, however... we are approaching darkness and last night the visibility was less than 1.0 metre and as black as the inside of a cow.
After a long chat with our Navigator (Rosco) and watch leaders Mark Thomas and Paul Standbridge, we have decided to detour to the south of the new known ice field adding some 180nm to our trip. It is not prudent to sail north of a known berg as there could be growlers nearby which we would have no way of detecting.
We will be approaching our new ice waypoint in 6 hours and hopefully we will be able to ease sheets again, our biggest hurdle is that by taking this detour it changes our routing having lost so much time.
Our weather router Roger Badham and navigator Rosco will be working overtime to get us back up to speed in what will be testing weather conditions.
Later....."
The Eskimo’s
Day 3 - Thursday 29 May
Last nights deviation due to the sighted iceberg by a ship in our area has hit us pretty hard in terms of miles and weather. Rosco is working with 'clouds' our weather router to resurrect our route and get us into a position to get on the back of the next system. Still very tricky times ahead and the next 24 hours are critical, we are pushing hard.
The boat is running really well and the crew are all fine.
Paul Standbridge with the aid of nutritionist Shaun Biddulph looked after the rations for this trip and we have a daily supply which includes:- tea bag, coffee, chocolate bars, energy bars, energy drinks, freeze dried food and wet wipes. So basically once the daily quota has gone it is gone!!!"
Current Record Status – Approximately 40nm ahead
Day 4 - Friday 30 May
Very busy night, couple of hiccups and had to slow down for a bit. Currently running in a moderate swell surfing with a reef in the main and R 2 + staysail. Once day light we hoisted the A-5 spinnaker to see how we go as we are trying to sail deep to stay in our new wind (which the guys did a great job finding.)
As at 10.00 this morning (GMT) we have 1619 miles to go and so are 45% of the way across - we will cross half way early tomorrow morning with a bit of luck.
All in all....plenty of golf left in this hole and so will keep you updated."
Current Record Status – Approximately 79nm ahead
Day 5 - Saturday 31 May
We have seen a lot of action in the last 24 hours.
We managed to collect 2-3 tons of water in our not so very watertight compartment in the bow.
Paul Standbridge dodged a huge sleeping whale on the surface.
Repairs had to be made to a torn sail.
Then this morning at 0600 we were sailing at full speed with a masthead chute up in 18 knots of wind and whack, we wrapped a huge sunfish around the rudder.
Mark Thomas who was driving managed to keep the yacht under control initially whilst we furled the spinnaker (750 square metres of it). Unfortunately we got a bad furl as we slowly drifted head to wind with no steerage. The result, the sail was flogging so we lowered it into the water gently so as not to blow it out while the fish was still embedded in the rudder.
It was a big job to get the sail back aboard but certainly worth it as this particular sail is made from Cuban fibre and costs in the region of 100K USD.
On a more positive note, yesterday morning through until mid afternoon was some of the best sailing we could ask for. Surfing up to 33/34 knots of boat speed in 25-26 knots of wind with full main, fractional spinnaker, good waves and brilliant sunshine. Fantastic!
Clouds and Rosco have done a great job getting us back into the game on the weather front after we had to dodge the iceberg from what seems like an age ago. Yesterday evening we went through some light patches and tricky conditions but happily today we are on course and at pace for Lizard Point (the finish line).
We need to average 15 knots all the way home. All of our routing software suggests we can do it but we need a bit of luck to go our way and stay at 100 per cent of polars, which we are achieving right now. The emphasis is now on us to manage the yacht and ensure reliability through to the finish, rather than relying on the weather."
Current Record Status – Approximately 62 nm ahead
Day 6 - Sunday 1 June
The game is on.
Since the last report we have had a good 24 hours with no sail changes. The crew are all well rested and there is more wind on the way, with a gradual increase in pressure forecast for the next 24/36 hours.
Our speed averages will increase from here to the finish (which is a straight line) giving us the time we need to beat the record so long as we do not have any hiccups. It will be a nail biter as we have 965nm to cover in around 65 hours which is equivalent to an average of 15 knots an hour."
Current Record Status – Dead level
Day 7 - Monday 2 June
There is not much change from yesterday. We are using the same sail plan just running deeper in more wind to set ourselves up for a nice angle into the lizard. Good sailing surfing up to 30 knots+ of boatspeed in pretty bouncy conditions.
Current Record Status – 8 hours ahead
Day 8 - Tuesday 3 June
Still a nail biter to the finish.
It was another good night again with no dramas and good speed, although the wind dropped off earlier on so we have slowed down slightly.
During the morning we managed to get our A-1 sail back into action (this was the sail that became tangled when we hit the sunfish). Fortunately we have not needed it until now.
As I said a few days ago it will be a close run to the finish, such is yacht racing and the reliance on outside forces. The exact reason why records are records and are difficult to beat.
We are constantly trimming the yacht and sails and sailing at our best. With just the tide to deal with - hopefully the weather gods will be on our side to the finish.
Current Record Status – close
UPDATE - AT THE FINISH:
It was a nail biting sail right to the finish. After a good final night, the wind dropped on Tuesday morning, slowing us a little. With full sails up we kept our foot down all the way in to the Lizard, and made it with time to spare even against the tide. As I predicted, it was an incredibly close run to the finish, but that’s the exact reason records are records and therefore difficult to beat.
- Chris Sherlock
ICAP Leopard Transatlantic Speed Record Crew:
1. Chris Sherlock - Boat Captain - Australia
2. Paul Stanbridge - Watch Leader/Driver - UK
3. Mark Thomas - Watch Leader/Driver - Australia
4. Ross Monson - Navigator - UK
5. Tim Sellars - Pitman - Australia
6. Zane Gills - Bowman - Australia
7. Paul Quinn - Bowman - New Zealand
8. Jonathan Carter - Bow Crew - Bermuda
9. Barnaby Henshaw Depledge - Trimmer - UK
10. Matthew Richardson - Trimmer - UK
11. Ben Morrison Jack - Trimmer - Australia
12. Gian Ahluwalia - Driver/Trimmer - Argentina
- YC
Submitted By YachtPals on 03 Jun
sailing records, ICAP Leopard, UK, yacht, yachts, yachting, sailing, mega-yacht, Leopard, boats, boat
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