Since buying the former Ichi Ban in March last year, Andrew Wenham has breathed new life into the yacht now known as Southern Excellence II, upgrading a number of systems on the boat to improve her IRC rating and to suit his requirements. In July, Southern Excellence II was the fifth boat to cross the finish line in the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, resulting in a seventh place in IRC Division 0. In April, she claimed her second consecutive line honours win in the Gosford Lord Howe Island Yacht Race in a time of 35 hours, 41 minutes and 34 seconds – just over half the time she took in the protracted light air 2012 race. The Wollongong businessman also took line honours in the re-invigorated Sydney Wollongong race, conducted by the CYCA in March, falling just 23 minutes and 49 seconds short of the 14-year old race record set by Brindabella.

In last year’s Hobart, Wenham and crew finished 12th on line and ninth in division after coping with gale force winds and rough seas off Tasman Island after placing fifth on line and fifth in IRC Division 0 in the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Wenham ended the CYCA’s 2013 to 2014 Blue Water Pointscore Series with second in the newly created Line Honours division.