0 TP52 Ichi Ban overall winner Sydney Hobart
- Regatta news
- by Team Racing-Yachts.com
- 30-12-2019
Ichi Ban has been officially declared the overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart, the yacht's second handicap victory in three years. Skipper Matt Allen and the crew of the TP52 will on Monday be presented with the prestigious Tattersall Cup in the 75th edition of the race
Ichi Ban, just completed her third Hobart. In 2017, the then very new Ichi Ban won it overall in her first outing, and now she has again this year, as well. It is a marvellous achievement for Matt Allen's IRC optimised Botin Partners 52, which was built by Spain's Longitud Cero.
After a strong start out of Sydney, the 52-foot Ichi Ban beat some of the massive supermaxis to Bass Strait and handled the changeable winds better than their rivals.
“The deciding moment was when we got through those weather systems. We got out of all those weather systems in good shape and ahead of the pack,” Allen said.
Gweilo was second overall followed by Quest, which rose to third after Envy Scooters was hit with a time penalty for failing to properly give way to Quest near Sydney.
By and large, Ichi Ban did lead their group the whole way. It is a bit like F1, where it is easier to win from in front. "We were in good shape the whole way, and in the TPs you might not be leading, but you do need to be in grasp of the top. Only then can you convert. Bouncing back at 52 feet is harder than if you're 65+. All of them are too close, if they go and you don't, then you're out the back door."
© Crosbie Lorimer
Sail-world.com