Sydney to Hobart 2021: Ichi Ban wins overall, line honours finish times, official results, best photos
Skipper Matt Allen had all but conceded a little boat would rule the roost in the 2021 Sydney to Hobart. Then something happened on Boxing Day just before the start. Result wrap, best photos.
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Matt Allen had just stepped aboard his 52-footer Ichi Ban to motor out to the start of the Sydney to Hobart on Boxing Day when he did one last check of the weather on his phone.
It was at this moment Allen realised there was a “glimmer of hope” he and his crew had a shot at winning one of the biggest prizes in world sailing - the Tattersall Cup for the overall win.
Up until then all the talk had been about the older, smaller boats in the fleet - the timber beauty Love & War and the little 34-footer White Bay 6 Azzurro being the top candidates for victory.
But Allen saw something in the forecast that made him wonder if the expected “push home” for the fleet tailenders would actually be as strong or continuous as first thought.
It wasn’t.
Around 2.30am on Friday an international jury upheld two protests lodged against the clubhouse leader, Celestial, a Sydney yacht owned by Sam Haynes, which added 40 minutes to her time in the race.
This effectively delivered former investment banker Allen, who is also on the Australian Olympic Committee Executive, the win as out at sea his last real rival, White Bay 6 Azzurro, was still miles from home, out of breeze and race runway.
It also delivered Allen and his TP52 two rare pieces of race history.
Only three yachts have now won the Sydney to Hobart overall on three occasions – Freya back in 1963, 1964 and 1965, Love & War in 1974, 1978 and 2006 and Ichi Ban in 2017, 2019 and now 2021.
It was also the first time in 57 years any boat has achieved the feat in successive races after the 2020 race was cancelled due to Covid and Allen came into the 2021 as the defending champion.
For Allen, a historian of the race and a passionate sailor who has now contested 31 Hobarts, this was particularly special.
“It’s quite a remarkable moment for the race. For me, it’s incredibly special,’’ said Allen who has confirmed he will be back in 2022 with Ichi Ban again.
“It’s hard enough to win once.
“This is more special than the others.”
Celestial has finished second overall despite her penalty issued after a jury found the boat breached race rules by failing to maintain constant radio contact.
When a personal locator beacon was accidentally set off the second night at sea on Celestial, Ichi Ban was asked to help contact the boat before a search and rescue mission was launched.
Ichi Ban set off two flares and Celestial was eventually able to confirm the beacon had been set off accidentally.
A discretionary penalty of 40 minutes in lieu of disqualification was added to Celestial’s time, putting it behind Ichi Ban in the chase for the overall win.
Ichi Ban was also given three minutes of redress for helping.
“I do respect the decision ... as far as I am concerned the decision stands, there’s nothing I can do about it,” said Celestial skipper Sam Haynes.
“It’s a devastating moment. I have been trying to win this race for 10 years.”
Ironically the close battle at sea with Celestial probably helped Allen and his team collect their prize.
“You would always prefer to win clean on the water. None of us enjoy going to the protest room,’’ Allen said.
The Simon Kurt's owned Love & War has finished third overall.
LINE HONOURS WINNER, TOP 10 PLACINGS IN 2021 SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE
The boat named after a legend of motor racing has finished the 2021 Sydney to Hobart in the slowest winning time since 2004.
The Peter Harburg owned 100-footers, steered by Mark Bradford, took way more than a day longer than the race record to get to Hobart this year.
At the end of the 628 nautical mile race she was followed over the finish line on the Derwent River by the Sydney yacht LawConnect and the Hong Kong entry Scallywag.
SYDNEY TO HOBART 2021 LINE HONOURS RESULTS
1 Black Jack, Peter Harburg, Queensland, 2 days 12 hours 37 minutes. Finished at 1:37am on December 29
2 LawConnect, Christian Beck. NSW, 2:15:11:44. Finished at 4:11:44am on December 29.
3 SHK Scallywag, Seng Huang Lee, Hong Kong, 2:15:30:52. Finished on December 29 at 4:30:52am.
4 Stefan Racing, Grant Wharington, Qld, 3:02:20:47, Finished on December 29 at 3:20pm
5 Whisper, David Griffith, NSW, 3:02:51:30. Finished on December 29 at 3:51pm
6 Ichi Ban, Matt Allen, NSW, 3:03:40:42. Finished on December 29 at 4:40:42pm.
7 Celestial, Sam Haynes, NSW, 3:04:02:43. Finished at 5:02:43pm December 29.
8 Smuggler, Seb Bohm, NSW, 3:11:14:54. Finished at 12.14:54am on December 30.
9 Quest, Craig Neil, NSW, 3:15:46:37. Finished at 4:46am on December 30
10 Mayfair, James Irvine, QLD. 3:23:15:33. Finished at 12:15:33pm on December 30.
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