Tony Kirby retired Patrice from the 2015 Hobart when she suffered extensive mainsail damage. Came unstuck in her first Hobart in 2013 with hull delamination, but finished ninth overall and won Division 1 in 2014, then dominated to win at 2014 Airlie Beach Race Week. Won IRC Division 1 of the 2015 Sydney Harbour Regatta, placed seventh overall and won Division 1 in the 2015 Sydney Gold Coast, and was fourth in the 2015 Brisbane Keppel Race. In 2016, the Ker 46 was ninth overall in the Gold Coast Race, then eighth in the Flinders Islet Race. Kirby has seen Patrice through a few modifications, including just prior to this race, to improve Patrice’s performance. He will again take the bears to Hobart, raising funds for The Kids’ Cancer Project, which undertakes childhood cancer research. Was having work done to its keel in November to improve performance. Navigator Michael Bellingham will notch up his milestone 25^th Hobart.