Racing History

Owner Mike Slade has a long history when it comes to racing Super Maxis and is no stranger when it comes to the international race circuit. 

Leopard’s predecessor, Leopard of London, currently holds two racing records:

1. Hoya Round the Island Race Record 2001 (4 hours, 5 minutes and 40 seconds - Total circumnavigation time: 4 hours, 8 minutes and 55 seconds)

2. Cowes - Dinard Race Record 2001 (15 hours, 12 minutes and 17 seconds)

Leopard of London - Past Press Releases

'Mike Slade steered Leopard into Plymouth at 0517 this morning, less than two minutes in front of Bouwe Bekking's professional team. While Bekking's men were operating in full ocean racing mode, working constantly to trim the boat in between indigestible meals of freeze-dried food, Slade's team were living like kings.'
Yachting World, Rolex Fastnet, August 11 2005

"Property developer Mike Slade has held the Round the Island Race monohull race record since 1991 in three different boats. The record was established in 2001 by "Skandia Life Leopard" at 4 hours 5 minutes and 40 seconds. He will be defending his title again this year in "Leopard of London", following completion of the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge."
Flavia Bateson, Island Sailing Club, 30 May 2005

"The tensest start was between the giants in Performance Cruising class 2. Mike Slade's Leopard of London hit the line perfectly at the Ambrose Light end, while there was near contact at the committee boat end."
Regatta News, Rolex Transatlantic Race, May 22 2005

"Leopard of London crossed the ARC 2004 finish line in the shadow of Pigeon Island to be the first boat to complete the ARC route. Leopard rounding the headland and going hard on the wind in a north easterly 3, was an awesome and beautiful sight. She powered over the finish line at 15 knots with all the crew cheering at their achievement."
Caribbean Racing.com, 19 December 2004

"Mike Slade on Leopard won Best Overall under IRM for the Fastnet Rock Trophy. Both winners will be awarded a Rolex Yachtmaster Rolesium for their efforts."
Rolex Regatta News, August 15 2003

"Mike Slade’s Leopard will receive the prestigious Fastnet Rock Trophy for best overall in class as well as the Erivale Trophy for first yacht home. A special trophy will also be awarded this evening when Hugh Agnew of Leopard, wins the Keith Ludlow Trophy for Navigator of the best yacht overall."
RORC, August 2003

"There was no doubt that Leopard was in front of the class, and a few minutes later ahead of all the sports boats and day-boats that had started 10 minutes in front. Leopard was the first monohull to finish the Round the Island Race 2003."
Bob Fisher, Yachts and Yachting, July 2003

"Dolphins led the huge British Leopard across the Bass Strait yesterday, close to the front of the fleet of the Sydney Hobart Race. A 15 knot north-easterly allowed the 29.5m maxi to leap across the unusually placid strait"
Bruce Montgomery, The Weekend Australian, Dec 2002

"We expected Leopard to be very competitive, she was very close to our speed all the way around the course, Shockwave’s Crichton said."
Jessica Halloran, The Sydney Herald, Dec 2002

"It has been more than a year now since London property magnate Mike Slade let his sleek new Leopard loose on the Solent but in that time no one has come up with anything to match her for speed, size and sheer beauty"
Kate Laven, Southern Daily Echo, August 2001

"The Round the Island monohull record previously held by Mike Slade's old maxi, Longobarda, was beaten by Slade himself on board his new giant 'super-sloop', Skandia Leopard"
Edward Gorman, Times, June 2001

"The 92 ft Skandia Leopard set a new mark of 4hr 5min 40sec in this years Round the Island Race, lopping 65min off Slade's 1996 time"
Tim Jeffery, Daily Telegraph, June 2001