The yacht that became Drum was designed by Ireland-based boat designer Ron Holland[1] & commissioned by Rob James to be sailed in the Whitbread Round the World Race.[2]; with Mitsubishi both sponsoring & setting up Mitsubishi Marine to build the yacht, originally to be named “Colt Cars”. However Rob James drowned in a sailing accident on the 22nd of March 1983[3] – prior to any construction starting.
Then, with Jeff Houlgrave (Rob James’s second in command) as the new skipper, the project got under way to the stage of finishing the hull & deck as separate units in Plymouth, Devon – before Mitsubishi pulled the sponsorship (unknown reason).
Rob Lipsett, who had been in charge of building it at Mitsubishi, then set up Vision Yachts in the Isle Of Wight – taking part of the team with him – & after Simon Le Bon & the Berrow brothers bought it[4], completed the build.[5]
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 keel supplier 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.[6][7] 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[8][9], finishing in 3rd place on elapsed time[10] - with a 50 minute documentary released on video in 1987; "Drum - An Extraordinary Adventure" (UK)/"Drum - The Journey Of A Lifetime" (USA).
Fastnet, 2005
20 years after the original race Drum competed in the 2005 Fastnet Race with most of the surviving members of the original crew[11], however the yacht was becalmed & did not finish[12]; with Simon Le Bon having to be airlifted off the yacht by helicopter in order for him to fly to Japan on the 12th of August for a scheduled Duran Duran performance at the Summer Sonic Festival, Tokyo on the 13th. The reunion was the subject of a 62 minute documentary "Drum - Unfinished Business" by Jacaranda Films; which, along with DVD-Rs for internal use within Arnold Clark, had a limited direct to consumer official DVD release.
Current status
Drum was purchased by Scottish businessman Arnold Clark 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.[13]
