At 05:48:47 hours this morning Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard devoured a massive 10 hours, 35 minutes and 10 Seconds off the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race record, completing a hat trick of records that includes the Fastnet Race and the transatlantic crossing. Near gale force winds - while not always favourable (bad wind is better than no wind) - helped the canting keel, 100 ft maxi power it’s way to a record time that will take a lot of beating.
The history of line honours in the Round Ireland begins with Force Tension in the first race in 1980 taking 5 days and just over 15 hours to complete the 704 mile course. Legendary Cork sailor Denis Doyle on Moonduster took both line and overall honours in 1982 & ’84 ultimately bringing the record down to just over 3 days 16 hours. While Moonduster took line honours again in 1988, her Round Ireland record wasn’t beaten until Laurie Smith on Rothmans knocked close to 4 hours off in 1990. Laurie Smith’s record stood for 8 years until Colm Barrington knocked a further 8 hours plus off the record in 1998.
ICAP Leopard has set a new milestone of 65 Hours 48 Minutes 47 Seconds and both skipper and crew greatly deserve to be congratulated on their achievement in difficult conditions and presents a much bigger challenge for others in the future - come back Colm.
Is Blackadder’s Baldrick at work in this years BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race?
Kinsale Yacht Club entry Joker’s tracker hasn’t registered since leaving Wicklow. Is there a “cunning plan” in prospect? Watch this space.
While the race for line honours is over, the race for the premier accolade of the BMW Round Ireland 2008 - overall winner on handicap - is still wide open, with Super 0 class boats such as Alburn, Lee Overlay Partners & Formidable 3 competing with Kinsale veterans, Nadie & Two times winner Eric Lisson on Cavatina, George Radley on McCarthyMotors.ie and Bjaysus, for God’ s sake, amongst others.
