Denali

Denali is the latest to join the popular TP52 throng in Australia.  She was built in 2007 and raced on the TP circuit out of the USA as Matador, before being updated to offshore standards and raced in the US as Denali.  Damien Parkes bought the boat in 2019 and has been putting it to good use – when Covid has allowed.  Parkes says the boat has all the right gear and rates well with a good crew to sail it.  Gweilo, Parkes says, is the boat to beat,  “Ichi Ban, of course, and never underestimate Greenie (Mike Green) on Quest. My crew are still learning, whereas the others have been racing the same boat for 10 years.  We haven’t done much offshore but should be up there on IRC.”

Parkes raced to Hobart on his Duende in 2019, joining the crew who sailed her and renamed the boat ‘Happy Wanderer’.  His best result from 32 Hobarts was a line honours win on Vengeance in 1981, a maxi he raced to Hobart on four times.  On board Denali is helmsman Tony Kirby who did the fourth of his 35 races with Parkes and Matt Cassidy, the sailing master, who has done all 13 Hobarts with Parkes.  Others aboard have also raced with the Sydney yachtsman in recent years.  

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