Ichi Ban

This TP52 has been a thoroughbred since Matt Allen took the wrapping off. Ichi Ban won the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart. Looking good for a repeat performance last year, the Derwent shut down, but she still managed fifth overall, third in Division 1, and was the top TP52. She won the 2018 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore by 14 points, won Division 1 of the Australian Yachting Championships and won the Adelaide Port Lincoln Race. Was dismasted after the start of the 2019 Brisbane Gladstone race, finished second to Envy Scooters in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race, but reversed that to win the Brisbane Hamilton Island Race before winning the Flinders Islet and Newcastle Bass Island races. These deeds found her a finalist in World Sailing’s 2019 Goslings Boat of the Year Award.

In her maiden race, Ichi Ban took the line and overall double in the 2017 Newcastle Bass Island Race. In 2018, she cleanly won her Division in the Australian Yachting Championships, won the Brisbane Gladstone race, placed second in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast race (the top TP52), won both the Flinders Islet and Newcastle Bass Island races, placed second in the Cabbage Tree Island Race and that November, was named RORC Yacht of the Year for her sailing feats. Allen went on to win December 2018’s Bird Island Race. She remains the benchmark for the fleet.

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