Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard yacht secured a second consecutive victory in the 608-mile Rolex Fastnet Race in the early hours of this morning.
Slade’s 100ft super-maxi was considerably behind the course record she set two years ago because of the mixed weather conditions. Arriving at the Plymouth finish line at 9:36am, her time was 2 days 11 hours 9 minutes and 36 seconds, compared to 1 day 20 hours 18 minutes and 53 seconds in 2007.
‘It was a great race,’ said the Helical Bar chief executive. ‘It is always nice to have a race where there are no breakages or damage. We didn’t get into any difficult situations. We just wanted to get around fast and competently.
‘All in all we are delighted to be here, second time running, back to back victories in this great race.’
The Fastnet begins in Cowes, goes to Lands End, then the Fastnet Rock off the Scilly Isles to the finish line in Plymouth Harbour.
ICAP Leopard’s next major events are the Rolex Middle Sea Race out of Malta in October followed by the Rolex Sydney Hobart in December. ‘No one has ever won all three and we will give it a try,’ said Slade.
‘We will go down there and represent Britain and try and knock off the Aussies. God knows what they are going to do at the Oval. We might need to get some revenge!’
