ICAP Leopard, the Farr-designed, 100-foot super maxi, has smashed the Rolex Fastnet Race monohull record.

Sailing in brutal winds of up to 45 knots, which saw almost 200 yachts retire from the race, ICAP Leopard completed the 608-mile course in just 1 day, 20 hours, 18 minutes and 53 seconds, beating the previous record by 8 hours and 50 minutes.

At 08:58:53 local time yesterday, Mike SLADE's (GBR) new 100-foot super maxi crossed the finish line off the Plymouth breakwater under spinnaker, breaking the Rolex Fastnet Race monohull race record that has stood since 1999.

With an elapsed time of 1 day, 20 hours and 18 minutes, ICAP Leopard chopped just under 9 hours off the record set by Ross FIELD (GBR) on the 80-foot RF Yachting.

Full report in today's Daily Echo