5:53 PM Tue 22 Dec 2009 GMT
Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009 ICAP Leopard, another brilliant McConaghy built supermaxi.
Fresh from taking his second line honours win in a row of the Rolex Fastnet Race, Mike Slade and his international crew, including a number of Australians, are one of five 100ft maxis competing in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart.
ICAP Leopard finished second across the line behind Wild Oats XI in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart when both were 98-footers under the then maximum length overall limit of 30 metres.
Slade is chasing an elusive Rolex line honours treble in the race to Hobart, having claimed wins in the Fastnet and Middle Sea Races. No yacht has won the big three in the same year.
Weighing 10 tonnes more than the lighter weight supermaxis Slade is hoping for hard running and reaching race and if some of the forecast models come to fruition that is exactly what she might get. If the first night is hard on the nose, ICAP Leopard could break clear of the current line honours favourites Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI and Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo.
Yesterday Andrea Francolini was on the harbour and offshore with the big British entry. Enjoy some of his images.
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SAILING - ICAP Leopard. sailing in Sydney - 22/12/09
From left to right: CEO of ICAP Michael Spencer and Mike Slade, owner of ICAP Leopard
ph. Andrea Francolini -
Andrea Francolini
©
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by Sail-World.com
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