Sydney to Hobart: Ichi Ban completes hat-trick of wins after controversial end to yacht race
- 52-foot yacht elevated to first overall after rival Celestial hit by 40 minute penalty after protest
- Celestial crew punished for failing to answer radio communication for more than an hour after a personal locator beacon was set off by mistake
Ichi Ban has been confirmed as the overall handicap winner of the gruelling Sydney to Hobart race, pipping rival Celestial which finished faster but was hit by a time penalty.
It was the third Sydney-Hobart handicap victory for the 52-foot Ichi Ban, owned and skippered by Matt Allen, who will once again have his boat’s name engraved on the Tattersall Cup after triumphing in 2017 and 2019.
But the win, which was confirmed on Saturday, was overshadowed by controversy because of the penalty against Celestial, imposed after protests were lodged by Ichi Ban and by the race organisers.
“This is a time we will never forget. I have a mix of young, old and wise crew. It was a great opportunity for the guys who worked so hard,” said Allen, who also won the race as crew for Lou Abrahams on Challenge in 1983.
“To win with Ichi Ban a third time is unbelievable. It’s always better, ideally, not to go into the room to decide.”
On Saturday, an international jury rejected a bid by Celestial to reopen the penalty hearing after it added an extra 40 minutes to the boat’s time on Friday, relegating it to second place.
The time penalty was given because Celestial’s crew failed to answer radio communication for more than an hour after a personal locator beacon on the yacht had been set off by mistake.