23rd June 2007
ICAP LEOPARD TAKES MONOHULL LINE HONOURS AT
JP MORGAN ROUND THE ISLAND RACE
100 foot superyacht’s debut race
Mike Slade’s new supermaxi yacht, ICAP Leopard, this morning took monohull line honours
in the JP Morgan Round the Island Race. Completing the 55 mile course in just 4 hours 23
minutes and 5 seconds, ICAP Leopard was only a matter of minutes from breaking the
Round the Island Race record, held by Slade’s previous boat, Leopard of London in 2001.
Starting the annual dash around the island just after dawn, ICAP Leopard’s crew of
America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race legends sailed an almost faultless race. First boat to
the Needles, she blasted round the south side of the island to St Catherine’s point before
beating back upwind through the Solent to the finish line off Cowes. Having recently
arrived in the UK after being built at McConaghy Boats, Australia, the crew of 28 plus eight
guests pushed the boat hard in around 14 knots of breeze, amongst a fleet of 1,799 boats.
Owner Mike Slade commented: “We are absolutely thrilled the with the new ICAP Leopard.
She feels fantastic, really well balanced, and for a brand new boat straight out of the box,
she performed absolutely superbly today. St Catherine’s point is always tricky, but we had a
cracking sail round the back of the island to Bembridge with the kite up all the way from
the Needles. With today’s wind direction we had a lot of tacking up the Solent to do which
slows you down, so sadly we didn’t quite beat the record, but we’re not disappointed at all
- and there’s always next year!”
Like her predecessors the Farr-designed super maxi is aimed towards the charter market as
well as winning races and making record attempts. With her removable interior, she can be
transformed from racing machine to the ultimate in luxury sailing yachts. ICAP Leopard is
set to compete in a number of high-profile races and regattas all over the world this year.
These will include Skandia Cowes Week, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Middle Sea Race and
the infamous Rolex Sydney Hobart Race which starts on Boxing Day.
- ENDS -
Round the Island Race Crew List:
BOW 1 JUSTIN SLATTERY
BOW 2 JASON CARRINGTON
BOW 3 NIPPER SALTER
BOW 4 ROSS MONSON
SEWER 1 ZANE GILLS
SEWER 2 TIM SELLARS
SEWER 3 BARNABY HENSHAW DEPLEGE
MAST RORY HERON
MAST LED PRICHARD
MAST HUGH MORRISON
MAST MAX SLADE
PIT CADDY JOHN CALCUTT
PIT 2 KELVIN RAWLINGS
PIT 1 ANDREW HENDERSON
TRIMMER KEVIN GEORGE
TRIMMER ADAM HAWKINS
TRIMMER RICHIE FAULKNER
HYDRAULICS/TRAV HUGO SLADE
MAINSHEET caddy HUGH AGNEW
MAINSHEET MARK THOMAS
HELM/TACTICS ADRIAN STEAD
HELM MIKE SLADE
NAV/TACTICS JULES SALTER
HELM TIM POWELL
RUNNER CHRIS LAW
RUNNER CHRIS SHERLOCK
COMMUNICATOR PAUL STANDBRIDGE
ENGINEER JOHN HILDERBRAND
PLC ENGINEER MICK DUNN
For all media enquiries and images free for editorial use, please contact:
Kate Fairclough, or Annabel Merrison, Pitch PR
T: +44 207 494 1616
M: +44 (0)7789 268814 or +44 (0)7721 518411
Email: kate@pitchpr.com or annabel@pitchpr.com
For enquiries about sponsorship & hospitality onboard Leopard contact:
Louise Eddom, Ocean Marine
T: +44 (0)2380 220388
M: +44 (0)7909 662233
Email: louise@leopard3.com
Notes to editors
Leopard
Ocean Marine is presently seeking sponsorship, post September 2007, and is considering
the possibility of an attempt, late 2008, for the world’s most sought after record: non-stop
around the world in under 80 days. Leopard follows in the footsteps of super-maxi yachts
Ocean Leopard (1988-1999) and Leopard of London (2000-2006). Like her predecessors
she is aimed towards top-level race sponsorship, day charters in the Solent and, longer
term, charters in the warmer waters of the Caribbean. Ocean Marine is also looking at the
possibility of incorporating a tour of SE Asia into the 2008 race programme.
Farr Yacht Design provided Leopard’s basic naval architecture and construction
engineering, whilst styling and interior was designed by Ken Freivokh. The boat was built
by McConaghy Boats in Sydney, Australia, with Chris Sherlock acting as owner’s
representative.
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