Drum (yacht)

Drum is a maxi yacht owned by Scottish car sales group Arnold Clark Automobiles, formerly co-owned by lead singer of Duran Duran Simon Le Bon who was rescued from the vessel while competing in 1985 Fastnet Race.

Drum
Nation United Kingdom
ClassMaxi
Designer(s)Ron Holland
Owner(s)Simon Le Bon
Sir Arnold Clark
Racing career
SkippersSkip Novak

Design

Drum was designed by Ireland-based boat-builder Ron Holland[1] and built in Finland.[2] Drum was purpose-designed and built to be sailed in the Whitbread Round the World Race.[3] The vessel was purchased by Simon Le Bon and the Berrow brothers.[4]

Career

Fastnet, 1985

Drum competed in the 1985 Fastnet Race. It was one of the favourites to win the race, but the boat lost its keel because the builder failed to heat treat the structure holding the keel to the yacht as specified by the designer, a necessary step after welding aluminum. When the structure failed, Drum capsized.[1] Its crew were all rescued.[5][6] Le Bon had not insured the vessel.[4]

1985–86 Whitbread

Drum was re-fitted and competed in the 1985–86 Whitbread Round the World Race.[7][8]

Current status

As of 2013 Drum is owned by Scottish businessman Arnold Clark, who purchased the yacht in the late 1980s. In 1988 Drum was again accorded media attention when it was involved in a collision with a Royal Navy submarine, around 5 miles off the Mull of Kintyre.[9]

As of 2020, Drum is no longer sailing and her historical relevance could secure her a permanent berth in a museum.[10]

References
  1. "The History of Arnold Clark Drum". Arnold Clark. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. "Yacht Wreckage Examined". New York Times. New York Times Company. 12 August 1985. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  3. "Top 10 Volvo Ocean Race moments: page 3 girls, arrests, 'rock star' sailors, all-female crews and turning turtle". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  4. Wallace, Carol (26 August 1985). "Rescued at Sea". People. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  5. Alleyne, Richard (8 August 2005). "Le Bon back at the helm after brush with death". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  6. "Simon le Bon pays tribute to Cornish SAR crews". Pirate FM News. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  7. Lloyd, Barbara (21 December 1987). "On Course to the Whitbread". New York Times. New York Times Company. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  8. Novak, Skip. One Watch at a Time - Around the World with Drum on the Whitbread Race. W W Norton, 1988. ISBN 0-393-02498-9
  9. Cramb, Auslan (18 July 1988). "Probe after submarine collides with yacht". The Glasgow Herald. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  10. "Museum berth".
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