Ichi Ban holds lead in Brisbane to Gladstone

by Ian Grant on 21 Mar 2008 Matt Allen’s high performance ocean racer Ichi Ban continued to hold a narrow lead in the 308 n/ml Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race this afternoon.

Ichi Ban rated as a possible record breaker following her outstanding line honours win in 2007 encountered unexpected light head winds in Moreton Bay and struggled to hold off a persistent challenge from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron sloop Spirit of Queensland.

Both crews worked tirelessly to maintain a competitive speed in the light sea breeze as they sailed within hailing distance over the initial 42 nautical miles towards the exit of Moreton Bay.

A race observer reported Ichi Ban was the first yacht to weather the Caloundra Fairway Buoy shortly before 4 o’clock this afternoon holding a narrow 3 minute lead over Spirit of Queensland while Graeme Wood’s Wot Yot held third just ahead of the Ray Roberts skippered Quantum Racing.

However while the battle at the front of the fleet remained tight the leaders fell well short of the required boat speed to challenge the 20 hour 24 minute 57 second race record set by Grant Wharington’s super maxi Skandia.

Ichi Ban slowed by the unusually light head winds had only logged a little over 9 knots in the first four hours of the race however she had sailed into more favourable spinnaker sailing winds when navigator Will Oxley set the course for a spinnaker sailing reach towards Double Island Point.

Weather forecasters have predicted the trade wind to freshen overnight and while Ichi Ban and Spirit of Queensland improved their average speed it seems unlikely that the strengthening spinnaker sailing wind will give them the chance to complete the course before 7-24-50 am tomorrow and claim a new race record.

Meanwhile the smaller and lower handicapped yachts including previous race winners Saltash II, Wistari, and Pagan will again sail into contention to win the historical 60 year old trophy The Courier Mail Cup.

All three sloops were positioned in the bulk of the fleet and were provisionally placed among the handicap leaders along with Wedgetail (Bill Wild) the 2006 race winner Corum (Mike Balkin) and the Rod Jones skippered 2007 Audi Australian IRC champion Alegria.