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Ichi Ban basks in Syd-Hob overall win

3 minute read

Ichi Ban has taken out handicap honours in the 75th edition of the Sydney to Hobart, claiming the Tattersall Cup for the second time in three years.

Fresh from claiming overall Sydney to Hobart honours for the second time in three years, Ichi Ban skipper Matt Allen has his sights on a feat not achieved since the mid-1960s.

The crew of the 52-foot flier was on Monday awarded the Tattersall Cup before Allen pledged to make the yacht even faster in 2020.

Ichi Ban also won the handicap in 2017 and was in a strong position to go back-to-back last year until light winds in the River Derwent brought her undone.

History didn't repeat this time around despite some nervous slow moments on approach to the river near Tasman Island.

"Coming up the Derwent doing 19 knots when last year we were lucky to be doing half a knot - that made a big difference to the crew's morale," Allen said.

"This has made those scars go away and it's a great feeling for the whole crew to have nailed it this time."

Having sailed his 30th Sydney to Hobart, Allen is again eyeing consecutive overall wins, something not done since Freya's three-peat in 1963, '64 and '65.

"The fact we can average 16 knots over a period of time in this boat is just incredible; that was unheard of 10 years ago," he said.

"It's very hard to defend successfully. It didn't work for us last year but we will work on the boat, make it faster and be back for sure."

Ichi Ban crossed the line on Saturday evening, with her corrected time not threatened by a flurry of boats that finished on Sunday.

Such was her speed she beat some of the supermaxis to Bass Strait.

Ichi Ban finished about 12 hours behind line-honours winner Comanche, which took out the 75th edition of blue water classic for the third time.

Allen said the biggest challenge was navigating the changeable winds.

"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," he said.

The crew were in celebration mode when they arrived in Hobart, having calculated their standing.

"We'd beaten all the boats ahead of us, the boats immediately behind we had (the better of)," Allen said.

"We were pretty confident hitting the dock."

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.

Last year's handicap winner, Tasmanian yacht Alive, came fourth.

2019 SYDNEY TO HOBART HANDICAP STANDINGS

1. Ichi Ban

2. Gweilo

3. Quest

4. Alive

5. Chinese Whisper

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