Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard won the 2009 Fastnet Race on Wednesday, retaining the biennial offshore classic title.
The 100 foot (30m) Canting Keel Maxi crossed the finish line at Plymouth in southwest England at 1:09am, completing the race in two days, 11 hours, nine minutes and 36 seconds.
The catamaran retained the title, having won the 2007 race in a record time of 44 hours, 18 minutes.
A total of 300 yachts from 15 countries took part in the 43rd Fastnet Race, a 608-nautical mile (1,126km) sprint.
Yachts set off from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, southern England, round the Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland then head back to Plymouth.
Hong Kong yacht Beau Geste, Karl Kwok’s brand new Farr 80, came in second at 2:25am, while Sebastien Josse claimed third place for France when BT IMOCA 60 crossed the line at 3am.
ICAP Leopard will contest the Middle Sea Race out of Malta in October, followed by the Sydney Hobart in December.
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