WICKED - BOAT HISTORY

Wicked was the first of the Beneteau First 40’s into Australia, arriving in April 2009. She was hull number 17 off the Beneteau production line in France. Mike purchased Wicked through Sundance Marine (John & David Beck) at Sandringham. Upon arrival, Blue Marine (Jeff “Bluey” Casley) did most of the commissioning work at Sandringham Yacht Club.

After competing in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart and placing 2nd overall, Wicked lost her mast in Banks Strait during the delivery back to Melbourne. In dangerous conditions at night, the delivery crew, (which included Mark Welsh) successfully cut the rig away to avoid hull damage and motored to Beauty Point to assess the damage.

In July 2011 Wicked journeyed North for the Winter. After cruising to Sydney, Wicked participated in the Sydney-Gold Coast race, winning IRC-3 (19th IRC overall) after being awarded redress of 2 hours after standing by Wasabi when they lost their keel off the northern NSW coast. The Welsh family then cruised Wicked from Gold Coast to Hamilton Island. Wicked then participated in Airlie Beach Race Week (3rd IRC Cruising) and then Hamilton Is Race Week (7th IRC-B).

Wicked has regularly journeyed west to compete in the Adelaide-Port Lincoln race and the subsequent Lincoln Regatta, regularly finishing in the podium under IRC and AMS.

In addition to regular racing at SYC, Wicked has also participated in a number of ocean and bay racing events run by ORCV. These have included Cock-of-the-Bay (1st IRC 2010,2013,2014; 1st AMS 2013); Stanley (1st AMS 2009; 1st IRC 2012); Devonport (2nd IRC 2014); King Is