The Yachts

Zen

Zen

 

Gordon Ketelbey, an avid one-design sailor, joined the TP52 class with his latest Zen, purchased in 2018 out of Europe. He retired on the first night of the 2018 Sydney Hobart, after enduring rig damage. Since then, Zen has been pushing the top TP52s in various races and regattas. Zen finished the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart in 11th place and followed up with second at the 2020 Australian Yachting Championships in Hobart in 2020. Ketelbey raced Sydney 38s in previous Hobarts, the last one, also named Zen, in 2014, and before that Wadadli. Best result was fifth overall for third in Division 3 in 2014. He also won the Sydney 38 Division in 2013. In 2016, he co-owned and skippered the Cookson 12, Philosophers, to 50th in the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

This year, Zen won February’s Port Hacking Race and placed fifth in the Lion Island Race and sixth in November’s Bird Island Race. Ketelbey and crew were thrilled to win the tricky Cabbage Tree Island Race in early December, beating Ichi Ban and Gweilo to the punch. Crew includes former youth match racer, Mark Langford, and talented young match racer, Clare Costanzo, who are sailing alongside those with serious Sydney Hobart cred, such as Sean Kirkjian and Tony Powell.

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name Zen
Sail Number 52001
Owner Gordon Ketelbey
Skipper Gordon Ketelbey (11)
Navigator Tom Barker (14)
Crew Clare Costanzo, Tim Austin (6), Mark Langford (3), Sean Kirkjian (23), Daniel Williams (10), Matthew Daniels, Shane Guanaria (13), Tony Powell (21), Neil Workman
State NSW
Club CYCA
Type TP52
Designer Botin Partners (Spain)
Builder Synergy Team
Construction Carbon
LOA 15.9
Beam 4.42
Draft 3.35