Sail Port Stephens: "little Zen" carries the day while "big Zen" heads for Admirals' Cup
by Doyle Sails 28 Apr 02:57 PDT
`little` Zen was top boat at Sail Port Stephens 2025 © Promocean Media
For the third time in just five years, Zen has emerged victorious as the IRC NSW Champion—this time aboard the iconic Farr 40, affectionately dubbed “little Zen.” With big Zen en route to the UK for this year’s prestigious Admiral’s Cup campaign
For the third time in just five years, Zen has emerged victorious as the IRC NSW Champion—this time aboard the iconic Farr 40, affectionately dubbed “little Zen.”
With big Zen en route to the UK for this year’s prestigious Admiral’s Cup campaign, the team brought Zen Farr 40 out of spinnaker racing retirement to compete at the 2025 Sail Port Stephens Regatta—and delivered a dominant performance.
Led by tactician Chris Nicholson, the Zen crew blended experience with youthful energy, featuring an impressive lineup of teenage sailors: Joel Beashal (17), Banjo Nicholson (16), and Oliver Guanaria (15). Together, they delivered a standout regatta, not only securing the IRC title but doubling down with a win in the ORC division as well.
Owner Gordon Ketelbey continues to build a legacy of performance excellence with Zen, and Port Stephens has once again proven to be a successful hunting ground for the team.
Integral to the team’s success was a complete Doyle Sails inventory, delivering the speed, control, and reliability that are synonymous with the Doyle Sails brand. Onboard expertise was also a solid asset, with Shane Guanaria of Doyle Sails Sydney key to the crew for the event.
“This result reflects the perfect blend of experience, next-gen talent, and top-tier sail technology,” said Guanaria. “We’re proud to support the Zen campaign with sails that perform at the highest level—race after race.”
“A huge thank you to Gordy for continuing to make Zen a stepping stone for young sailors looking to break into the professional sailing scene. Without owners like him, it’s incredibly tough for these kids to break through the glass ceiling. He’s always been encouraging and supportive of both youth and female sailors, and it’s a real privilege to be part of the journey.” says Shane.
The Doyle Sails success story didn’t end with Zen. Doyle-powered entries were right at the front of the fleet across multiple divisions. Andrew Kearnan’s Koa claimed 1st place in TPR, tied on points with Sebastian Bohm’s Smuggler, while David Doherty’s Matador rounded out the podium in third. Bohm also claimed 2nd place in IRC, finishing just one point ahead of Matador, who placed third.
Congratulations to all Doyle Sails customers on a stellar regatta and a fantastic show of performance, consistency, and teamwork.
The road to the Admiral’s Cup is well underway for Zen and Gordon Ketelbey, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
About Doyle Sails: Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.
Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.
By sailors, for sailors.