Ichi Ban in hunt
ATTENTION last night turned to the Tattersall Cup – awarded to the overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart race – with Matt Allen’s new TP52 Ichi Ban among the favourites.
Smaller boats Patrice (Ker 46), Concubine (Mills 45) and Chutzpah (Caprice 40) were also in the running.
The handicap honour goes for the vessel that performs best according to size, giving smaller boats a chance to prove their worth in what is regarded as one of the world’s toughest yacht races.
“This is the best Hobart race I have ever done ... I’ve never seen conditions like it,” ownerskipper Allen said, after Ichi Ban finished on Thursday.
“I think the breeze is lightening off though, and they (the other Tattersall Cup boats) won’t come home as fast.”