Brisbane Gladstone Race 2008 Ichi Ban wins again

by Andra Bite on 22 Mar 2008 Matt Allen skippered his modified Volvo Round the World racer Ichi Ban to a runaway win in the 60th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race this morning.

The 70 footer, the defending Line Honours winner, completed the course at 10.34am which was some 3 hours outside the 20hr 24min 50sec record set by Skandia in 2004.

She overcame light winds in Moreton Bay to sail into a perfect 15 to 20 knot spinnaker sailing breeze to sail the final 200 nautical miles above the required record average of 15.09 knots.

But the damage had already been done with a slow passage out of Moreton Bay yesterday afternoon.

Ichi Ban has taken the pride of place at the Commodore’s pontoon in Gladstone’s Auckland Creek while an interesting battle continues at sea for the minor Line Honours placings.

At fleet radio position report this morning, Ray Roberts’ Quantam Racing was holding second place slightly ahead of Wot Yot skippered by Graeme Wood.

When Ichi Ban finished she set the race clock ticking to determine the overall handicap winner of the 60th blue water classic.

Provisional leader on the water was the Brisbane yacht Argus skippered by Colin Kimmorley which had not contested a major ocean race in the past decade but was the best performer on the water this morning to lead on provisional handicap.