Ichi Ban's new rudder for King of the Derwent

by Peter Campbell on 2 Jan 2008 Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Matt Allen has flown in a replacement rudder to enable his Jones 70 Ichi Ban to contest this afternoon's 29th annual Wrest Point King of the Derwent in Hobart.

Ichi Ban is favourite for line honours in an expected large fleet drawn from the 150 yachts now in Hobart after the ocean races from Sydney, Melbourne and, for the first time, Launceston, plus local boats.

The King of the Derwent is also the final race in the Melbourne to Hobart Sovereign Series and the inaugural Launceston to Hobart series.

Traditionally, it is also an opportunity for visiting yachts to take family and friends, including many Tasmanians, for a sail before heading back to the mainland.

Despite losing one of her two rudders during the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, Ichi Ban still managed a third place across the line and second place in IRC Division O.

'The rudder is already fitted and we have also rebuilt the mainsheet traveler system which was damaged in the Rolex Sydney Hobart,' Allen said yesterday after accepting his trophies and delivering a notable commodore's address at the prizegiving at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

'We are aiming at leading the fleet around the river course in the King of Derwent and establishing a big enough lead to take handicap honours, too.

'We will have a big crew on board, including many of our Tasmanian friends and hosts,' Commodore Allen added.

The Wrest Point King of the Derwent, conducted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron, will start from a line off Wrest Point, the angle depending on the breeze, at 1pm, an hour earlier than in past years.

The exact number of entries for the King of the Derwent won't be known until later this morning as entries are being accepted by the DSS up until 1100
hours.

Missing from the fleet will Skandia, which broke the tip of its mast during the latter stages of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, and Sydney 38 One Design Division winner The Goat, on the slipway at the RYCT undergoing repairs to its keel bulb after hitting rocks in a close rounding of Tasman Island.

An added feature this year will be three-boat vintage race, contested by the Windeward Bound, Lady Nelson and Young Endevour, currently visiting Hobart.