The vessel known as Drum is a maxi yacht notable for its design, racing history, and association with prominent figures. Designed by Ireland-based boat designer Ron Holland, Drum was initially commissioned by Rob James with the intent to participate in the Whitbread Round the World Race. The project was supported by Mitsubishi, which sponsored the yacht and established Mitsubishi Marine to oversee its construction, originally under the name Colt Cars. However, Rob James tragically drowned in a sailing accident on March 22, 1983, prior to the yacht’s completion, leading to a change in ownership and crew. Construction progressed with the hull and deck assembled separately in Plymouth, Devon. After Mitsubishi withdrew sponsorship, Rob Lipsett, who had been involved in the build through Mitsubishi, established Vision Yachts on the Isle of Wight, completing the yacht’s construction. The yacht was subsequently purchased by Simon Le Bon, the lead singer of Duran Duran, and the Berrow brothers. Drum’s racing career includes participation in the 1985 Fastnet Race, where it was considered a favorite but suffered a critical failure when its keel was lost due to improper heat treatment of the keel-holding structure. This failure caused the yacht to capsize, although all crew members were rescued. Le Bon had not insured Drum at that time. The yacht was later refitted and competed in the 1985–86 Whitbread Round the World Race, finishing third on elapsed time, an achievement documented in the 1987 release "Drum – An Extraordinary Adventure." Decades later, in 2005, Drum attempted the Fastnet Race again with many of its original crew but was becalmed and did not finish. During this event, Le Bon was airlifted off the yacht to attend a Duran Duran concert in Tokyo. The yacht’s history also includes a notable collision with a Royal Navy submarine off the Mull of Kintyre in 1988. Owned by Scottish businessman Arnold Clark since the late 1980s, Drum remains a vessel of maritime interest, recognized both for its racing achievements and its colorful history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.