McConaghy Maxis - a powerhouse in sail racing

by Jonathan Morris on 17 Dec 2012 The McConaghy built maxi yachts ICAP Leopard 3, Wild Oats X & XI, and Esmit Europa continue to shine.

Mike Slade’s Farr designed ICAP Leopard 3, recently chartered by Niklas Zennström’s Team Rán, has smashed the course record for the 2,800 nautical mile IMA Transatlantic Race, beating the record set in 2011 by the 66-metre superyacht, Hetairos by over 25 hours. Leopard maintained an average boat speed of 19 knots, taking line honors in a time of 7 days, 8 hours, 59 minutes and 12 seconds.

Mike will be back on board ICAP Leopard in the RORC Caribbean 600 in February and should have a great battle with Hetairos for Line Honours.

In Europe this year the McConaghy built 100 ft Reichel Pugh designed Esmit Europa (previously Alfa Romeo) has dominated the Rolex offshore races setting a new course record in the Rolex Giraglia race, winning the Maxi Yacht Rolex cup, and winning line honors in the Rolex Middle Sea race. Igor Simcic and his crew also added the Wally record from Monaco to Porto Cervo, the Barcolana in Trieste, and the Trieste to Malta record to his list of successes for 2012.

Back in Australia, Bob Oatley’s Reichel Pugh designed Wild Oats X & XI this week dominated the big boat race on Sydney Harbour. The sprint around the harbour is a high profile build up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart race which starts on December 26. The 100 ft Wild Oats XI took line honors by a huge margin over Lahana, while the 66ft Wild Oats X won on IRC with the McConaghy built Reichel Pugh 60 Loki coming second.

Wild Oats XI and crew have almost completed their warm up for this years Hobart race, smashing last months Cabbage Tree Island race record in the process. McConaghy Boats have assisted the Wild Oats crew with modifications and a new dagger board this year which has so far proved to be very successful.

Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki was the IRC overall winner in last years Rolex Sydney Hobart race, Stephen and his crew are well prepared for another crack at the trophy with a very successful season and a string of IRC victories behind them this year

Other McConaghy Boats to watch in this years Rolex Sydney to Hobart race are the Ker 40 AFR Midnight Rambler, campaigned competitively by Ed Psaltis, Bob Thomas, Michael Bencsik, and Merlin a Kaiko desiged 52 owned by Olympic Gold medalist David Forbes.

Good luck to all McConaghy Boats owners and crew!