Rolex Fastnet- ICAP Maximus celebrates

by Graham Sprigg on 10 Aug 2005 Celebrations began early this morning as ICAP Maximus crossed the finish line in Plymouth Sound, to round off a perfect Fastnet Race for co-owners Bill Buckley and Charles St Clair Brown and their crew.

In spite of stiff competition and some very challenging light air sailing, ICAP Maximus extended its lead over Skandia Wild Thing, the Volvo 70 Telefonica movistar and others, to cross the line just after 08.20am local time on Wednesday morning.

Speaking shortly after the super maxi had docked, Charles St Clair Brown thanked Rolex, sponsor of the 2005 event, and praised his crew for their fantastic efforts. Although ICAP Maximus finished ahead of the fleet by a phenomenal time margin, the 600 nautical mile course, taken over the past three days, had been far from easy. After rounding Fastnet Rock at 03.33am local time on Tuesday morning, the high pressure system sitting over the Irish Sea frustrated their efforts to make good time away from Fastnet and back towards the Scilly Isles.

Winds as low as 2.5 knots made precision helming and precise calls for sail changes absolutely crucial, as the New Zealand crew headed south to exit the high. By late afternoon, winds were building again, as predicted by navigator Mike Quilter, and key helmsmen Richard Bouzaid, Tom Dodson, Greg Elliott (the yacht's designer), Jeff Scott and George Hendy worked hard to find wind and heat up the pace.

As Tuesday evening drew on, the wind built, and the super maxi recorded its fastest speeds of the race during the night's reach towards Plymouth. With 16 knots showing at times, significantly above the wind speed of 13 knots, the Kiwi yacht headed for line honours and a place in the history books.

Throughout the race, apart from the period a few hours after the start, the only competitors seen by the Kiwi boat were on the distant horizon. 'Once we'd rounded the Fastnet Rock,' commented St Clair Brown, 'we were quietly confident that, with a crew of this calibre, we would finish strongly.' His confidence proved correct and, with the support and assistance of ICAP, this super maxi has notched up yet another race win, achieved in difficult and demanding conditions.