The Yachts

King Billy

King Billy

 

Built from King Billy Pine and designed by Australian John King, Phil Bennett’s boat had to be named King Billy. She contested the 50th Hobart in 1994, placing fourth in Division F, finished 50th overall in 1995, and along with the multitude, retired from the 1998 race. Bennett says: “After the ’98 race, my wife cancelled my license to go south, but it has been reinstated for this one, provided the weather doesn’t look like a repeat of 1998.” The boat has done four Gosford Lord Howe Island races, seven Pittwater Coffs’ and twice won the RSYS’s Gascoigne Cup. She also contested the 2014/2015 Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore, finishing seventh under PHS (the main category) and sixth in IRC. 

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name King Billy
Sail Number 4966
Owner Phil Bennett
Skipper Philip Bennett (3)
Crew W Parkes, R Brown (2), B Wright (16), J Sweeny, J Taylor (16), A Hay (4), J Stephenson (4)
State NSW
Club RSYS
Type John King / Custom
Designer John King (Aus)
Builder Sailors Bay Boatshed
LOA 11.5
Beam 3.8
Draft 2.1