Ichi Ban

CYCA Vice Commodore and 2004 and 2005 Ocean Racing Yachtsman of the Year, Matt Allen, has upsized for this year’s race, bringing his Jones 70 Ichi Ban, which competed in the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race, to the start line for the first time. The boat has been extensively modified from its original Volvo 70 configuration and will be sailed by a star studded crew, including Michael Coxon, Michael Spies and Gordon Maguire who will join Allen in his quest for line honours and an overall win.

A second VO70, ABN AMRO, has also entered and in the right conditions, these boats are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots or 55 kilometres per hour so a line honours challenge has been thrown out to the 30 metre maxis Skandia, Maximus and Wild Oats XI.

Link here (Flash) or here (ASF format) to a profile of Ichi Ban

View the final Channel 7 race report for the 2006 race

Competitor Details