Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Ichi Ban seals CYCA Bluewater Championship

by Lisa Ratcliff on 20 Mar 2005
Ichi Ban Sail-World.com /AUS http://www.sail-world.com
A consistent eight-month campaign with his Farr 52 Ichi Ban has delivered the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s current Ocean Racer of the Year, Matt Allen, one of his lifelong dreams to become the CYCA’s Bluewater Champion.

The Sydney Mooloolaba Race which finished yesterday wrapped up the CYCA’s Bluewater Pointscore Championship which began with the Sydney Gold Coast Race in July last year and included the double points earner, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December.

‘It was a huge commitment to turn up for every Bluewater race in addition to our Rolex Farr 40 World Championship campaign.

Keeping the two programmes running concurrently was a big ask on the crew,’ admitted Allen this morning.

‘After a top three Rolex Sydney Hobart Race handicap result, we were in pretty good shape heading into the last couple of Bluewater races.

It is a great thrill to win the double of the Bluewater and the Tasman Performance Series’.

Matt Allen’s Farr 52 Ichi Ban, arguably the most extensively campaigned keel boat on the east Australian coast, beat Gunther Schmidt-Lindner’s Austmark by a convincing 21 points while Ed Psaltis’ AFR Midnight Rambler finished in 3rd place in the IRC Bluewater Pointscore.

Ichi Ban also placed first in the Tasman Performance Series (PHS) two points clear of the Volvo 60 Seriously TEN (John Woodruff and Eric Robinson) and Austmark, which finished in third place 9 points behind Seriously TEN.

But it doesn’t stop there for Matt Allen.

He will join Leslie Green as joint skipper of Green’s Swan 45 Ginger which is part of a three-boat team in charge of defending the Admiral’s Cup for Australia at Cowes in July this year.

His other big project is an all-Australian entry in the next Volvo Round the World Race, the first true all Australian entry he believes.

He has partnered with project manager Grant Wharington, owner/skipper of the 98-foot super maxi Skandia, and a Volvo Open 70 is in the final stages of construction at Hart Marine in Victoria.

‘Depending on sponsorship, we are hopeful of finalising our Volvo entry in April, launching the new boat in May and shipping it overseas for the start in November,’ said Allen.

‘Australians are amongst the best in the world when it comes to big boat racing and we have the best marine industry in the world but it’s time to put up a credible Australian challenge for the Volvo Race and hopefully the next America’s Cup.

It’s time we sailed the boats we build’.
V-DRY-XMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMBarton Marine Pipe Glands

Related Articles

Blind Sailor's solo Round the Island Challenge
Dani A. Pich is aiming to navigate his Patí Català catamaran around the Isle of Wight next week A truly remarkable challenge is underway on the Solent, with blind sailor Dani A. Pich aiming to sail solo around the Isle of Wight in a catamaran dinghy that has no rudder, no centreboard, no boom and is steered by the use of balance and body weight.
Posted today at 9:06 am
RORC Channel Race 2025 Preview
The high-stakes opener of the 2025 Admiral's Cup The 2025 RORC Channel Race is the high-stakes opener of the 2025 Admiral's Cup—and the pressure is on. With double points on the table and no discard allowed, this race could make or break a team's Admiral's Cup campaign.
Posted today at 8:42 am
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth starts today
131 boats from 18 countries prepare ahead of the main event The 2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth has become a magnet for the international foiling community. With 131 boats entered from 18 countries, this event is more than just a tune-up—it's a snapshot of the class's spirit.
Posted today at 5:33 am
SailGP: Stands go up in Portsmouth
The grandstand is in place and prominent on the Portsmouth shoreline, in readiness for the weekend The grandstand is in place and prominent on the Portsmouth shoreline, in readiness for this weekend's SailGP event, which marks the start of the European circuit for the League's Season 5.
Posted today at 12:22 am
America's Cup: Azzurra Challenge
Azzurra's 1983 debut turned Italian sailing into a national interest. Italy has one of the most passionate and enduring histories in the America's Cup. Azzurra's 1983 debut turned Italian sailing into a national interest.
Posted on 15 Jul
The Ocean Cleanup's 30 Cities Program
A look at The Ocean Cleanup and its the 30 Cities Program The cliche goes that one should avoid meeting one's heroes, as there's always a chance that the flesh-and-blood person might not live up to expectations. While I've never met Boyan Slat, I'd gladly take this risk.
Posted on 15 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 3
Mother Nature teases the competitors Mother Nature teased the competitors today and made them wait a bit, but she did not disappoint; the sun came out and a big westerly built to 18-20 knots!
Posted on 15 Jul
The Iconic Admiral's Cup Returns!
Harken UK caught up with the RORC CEO and Admiral's Cup sailors ahead of the event After a long hiatus, this prestigious international yachting regatta makes its grand comeback from 17- 31 July at The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Posted on 15 Jul
Excellent Olympic Season Openers for GP Watercraft
Bermudan ILCA sailors enjoy a strong start to the season! The first two Olympic events of 2025 proved a very positive start to the season for GP Watercraft and their Bermudan ILCA sailors: Sebastian Kempe (ILCA 7) and Adriana Penruddocke (ILCA 6) who are both coached by Shaun Priestley of GP Watercraft.
Posted on 15 Jul
A century of human endeavour
The Fastnet Race is regarded as one of offshore sailing's most complete proving grounds For 100 years, the Rolex Fastnet Race has been regarded as one of offshore sailing's most complete proving grounds. It is a place where ambitions and dreams meet harsh reality, where skill, endurance and fortitude are severely tested.
Posted on 15 Jul