Protest Gives Ichi Ban Overall Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race Win

Ichi Ban rounds a marker at the start of the 76th annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht race in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 26, 2021. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Ichi Ban has become the first yacht to win back-to-back Sydney to Hobart handicap honours in more than 50 years after rival Celestial copped a “devastating” time penalty.

Celestial was penalised 40 minutes for breaching race rules after protests lodged by Ichi Ban and the race committee were upheld in the early hours of Friday.