Leopard smashes Atlantic record

Leopard beat the previous record by eight hours

Sailing yacht ICAP Leopard has set a new monohull record of seven days 19 hours for crossing the Atlantic.

The 100ft monohull shaved eight hours off the previous mark for sailing from New York to the Lizard, Cornwall.

She sailed at an average of 15.5 knots and hit a top speed of 37.4 knots.

"It was an incredibly close run to the finish, but that's the exact reason records are records and therefore difficult to beat," said Leopard's boat captain Chris Sherlock.

Leopard crossed the finish line at 2022 BST on Tuesday, having started the record attempt off Ambrose Light, New York, at 0101 BST on Tuesday 27 May.

The previous transatlantic record for a monohull was held by 246ft yacht Phocea who sailed the course in eight days, three hours in 1988.

The outright record for sailing across the Atlantic belongs to French trimaran Groupama 3, which set a time of four days three hours 57 minutes in 2007.

"We are absolutely thrilled to get this transatlantic record," said Leopard's owner Mike Slade.

"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."

ICAP Leopard holds the record for the Fastnet Race - from Cowes to the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland and back to Plymouth - of 44 hours 18 minutes, which she broke last August by nine hours.