| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(22-12-2002) One of the leading contenders for handicap honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Matt Allen’s new Farr 52, Ichi Ban, is without a rudder – only four days out from the start of the 630 nautical ocean classic next Thursday, 26 December.
Ichi Ban lost the rudder east of Sydney Heads later yesterday afternoon during sail testing following the final race of the British Trophy Regatta, taking water until the crew plugged the hole in the hull left by the rudder stock.
Owner/skipper Allen phoned the yacht’s builders, DK Yachts, by mobile phone from the boat as it was being towed back to the Harbour in heavy seas, and they immediately began assembling a new rudder.
This will be flown to Sydney and is expected to arrive early on the morning of Christmas Day when the yacht will have to slipped to have the new rudder blade and rudder stock fitted.
In the meantime, Allen and his sailing master, Roger Hickman, are exploring other sources for a rudder of similar size as a back-up so that the yacht can join the 57 boat fleet on Boxing Day.
“Matt is confident that Ichi Ban will make the race,” Hickman said. “We had had a good day’s racing, hitting a top speed of 23 knots off the wind and regularly hitting 18-19 knots in finishing second in both races yesterday.”
Hickman recalled two incidents during and after the loss of the rudder:
Crewman John Flannery, wearing a Stormy Seas life safety vest and attached to a light line swam 200 metres to retrieve the float rudder blade, then used the blade to surf back to the boat in spectacular style.
A cameraman filming aboard Ichi Ban for Sydney Hobart Race sponsors, lost his camera overboard when the yacht gybed involuntarily when it lost steering, losing spectacular footage taken during the race – “some of the best he had ever taken of yacht racing,” according to Hickman.
Ichi Ban was towed back to Sydney Harbour last night by owner Matt Allen’s powerboat, Jalopeno, which had earlier been used a press boat to follow the racing.
The tow took several hours in rough seas and a 30 knot north-easterly wind, with the yacht being moored in Rushcutters Bay overnight before being brought into its berth this morning.
Meanwhile, the crew of another Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race competitor, Martin James’ Farr 65, Infinity III, are continuing to work on the boat which was badly holed by an out-of-control Sydney Harbour Jetcat two weeks ago.
Infinity III’s hull has been repaired but extensive work has to be done yet on cleaning up the interior, checking the rigging, communications and electrical equipment and undergoing a safety audit before the start.
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