Leopard transatlantic record in the balance

Mike Slade's supermaxi is ahead of her west to east transatlantic record, but a ridge lies ahead

This morning finds Mike Slade's supermaxi ICAP Leopard mid-Atlantic, 226 miles ahead of her previous time for the west to east transatlantic record for monohulls with powered winches, with just over 1000 miles to go before she reaches the Lizard.

The crew are focussing on two times - breaking their own record for vessels with powered winches that they set in 2008. To achieve this they have to pass the Lizard before 14:06:27 GMT this Sunday. However the crew are really hoping to break the non-powered record - currently faster than the powered one - held by Robert Miller's Mari Cha IV with a time of 6 days 17 hours 52 minutes. To better this Leopard would have to be at the finish line by 12:38:17 GMT on Saturday (5 June).

Prior to Leopard's departure skipper Chris Sherlock thought that Leopard could do the passage in six days given the right conditions - her ideal wind strength and direction is 25-35 knots from about 120deg TWA.

ICAP Leopard is a different beast from when Mike Slade and his crew attempted the record in 2008. To get the maxi LOA for the Rolex Sydney Hobart race she was extended by 0.5m and significantly the boat is two tonnes ligher and now features twin rudders.

The crew of 17, including Slade and led by Erle Williams, features the normal array of Volvo stardom such as Justin Slattery, Richard Mason, Jason Carrington, Guy Salter, Mark Thomas etc, with Hugh Agnew navigator and Roger Badham doing the met ashore. On this occasion the crew line-up lacks the wizen experience of Paul Standbridge who has jumped ship to campaign the 100ft Oman Sail trimaran.

The latest sched has the 100ft supermaxi some 270 miles south of the great circle to the Lizard, but this has been necessary in order to make best use of the favourable westerlies being generated by the depression at present directly north of her. Breaking Mark Cha IV's record looks out of reach as they would have to average 20.4 knots for the remainder of the voyage and at present conditions while strong are not strong enough. To break their own existing record they must average 13.7 knots and this appears to be achievable.

The forecast for 24 hours time has the depression moving slightly north and a second depression forming to the southwest of Leopard, although this will have little effect on her. However come Saturday unless Leopard can get north, the wind looks set to go soft as she encounters a ridge.

From on board

Guy Salter writes:

As a alternative to the captains blog I have been asked to put down some ramblings from the crews perspective over the last couple of days.

For a bunch of renegades this rabble has knitted together very well indeed – the mood onboard is both positive and jovial, most of the newcomers are still blown away by the fact that one of the most used and favourite pieces of electronic equipment is the toasted sandwich machine. A smile lights up a very tired face when the warm cheese and ham treats are passed around on deck – and the freeze dried has not really been touched all that much. Justin 'Juggy' Clougher has been converted and is threatening to not go offshore again without one!

The mighty ICAP Leopard3 is a deceptively fast boat in these heavier air conditions, the crew who don't really have the full on "balls to the wall" hard running experience of the Whitbread or Volvo are now also used to seeing low to mid 30's on the speedo and find it somewhat of an anticlimax when we drop below 20kts boatspeed.

The ones with Volvo experience are laughing at just how much easier it is to hit the high speeds with a significantly less physical investment. We don't have to grind and we are not underwater anywhere near as much.

In fact sitting on the sails stacked aft is like being at a theme park, you get the thrill of the acceleration and watch the wall of water barreling down the boat – and then just as you are preparing yourself to get hammered by the wave, it dissipates and you just get a minor spray.

Downstairs is fitting with a boat of this class – its extremely comfortable – to be honest you wouldn't even know you are flying along downwind. Brett Jones (one of these freaks who is taller than 5ft 8) can not stop talking about how this is the most comfortable bunks he has had the pleasure of sleeping in, as for once his feet are not hanging over the end of the bunk.

This boat is ideal for the older sailor who would like the thrill of the Volvo but with the comfort of a superyacht.

At present we are trying to negotiate the centre of the low – throwing in the odd gybe in a hope with hanging on with a chance of Mari Cha's record – the end of the trip does not look hopeful at all as the winds are predicted to lighten off – but we are not giving up onboard.
Chris and Hugh are constantly battling with the tricky decisions the weather is throwing up in a hope to keep the dream alive......

All the best

Guy 'Nipper' Salter and the renegades!

Note – Chris is battling away after blocking the heads – he isn't to happy but the crew are in tears observing the melt down!!!

From Chris Sherlock:

Day 5
Wednesday 02 June:

At 0400 this morning we were exactly half way and equal to Mari Chas half way time across the Atlantic. Yesterday we had a few slow hours negotiating our way through a trough but we we were soon back up to speed and averaged around 20 knots throughout the night and into this morning. We are currently in 20-25 knots of wind heading towards the low pressure system looking for a wind shift due in a few hours to Gybe away to the south where we expect to maintain the fast speeds we need for the next few days – our main problem is still negotiating a ridge of high pressure when we close on the UK coast.

Life on board pretty good, all the crew in good spirits and we need to maintain a tad under 18 knots to the finish to achieve our goal – tough, but certainly not impossible.

Bye

Chris