Protest mars Wild Oats XI record Sydney-Hobart race win

Pulse News Agency International by AFP

December 28, 2018 12:52 PM

Supermaxi Wild Oats XI won a record ninth line honours in the Sydney to Hobart ocean race Friday, but a protest against its victory for the second-year running has marred the celebrations.

Australia's Wild Oats XI approaches the finish line of the Sydney to Hobart race, taking its ninth line honours in the gruelling competition

In a thrilling finish to the 628-nautical mile (1,163-kilometre) bluewater classic down Australia's east coast that saw an unprecedented battle between four supermaxis, the 100-footer crossed the finish line first in Hobart.

The victory meant Wild Oats Xi was the most successful yacht in the history of the gruelling competition.

But late Friday, the race committee said it was lodging a protest against Wild Oats XI after second place Black Jack claimed the yacht's location system was switched off during the race, making them invisible to their rivals.

A hearing would be held in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.

The victory had been particularly special for Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards and the crew, after being stripped of their win last year when they were handed a one-hour penalty over a near-collision.

"Redemption for us, that is for sure. Last year, it was so disappointing," Richards told reporters after reaching Hobart.

"Whether people like it or not, it is Wild Oats XI's 10th time over that line first, no matter what anyone else says... After an event like last year and to come through and redeem yourself is a wonderful feeling, money can't buy it."

Richards marked the win at Constitution Dock with a trademark Australian "shoey" celebration, which involves drinking champagne out of a shoe, before he was thrown into the Derwent River by the crew.

Fierce battle

The 74th edition of the annual contest was characterised by a neck-and-neck battle between four supermaxis -- the biggest and fastest yachts -- Wild Oats XI, Comanche, Black Jack, and Infotrack.

Wild Oats XI and last year's defending champion Comanche had been taking turns to be in the lead since the fleet of yachts departed a sunny Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day.

But after leading the race overnight, Wild Oats XI surged ahead of Comanche early Thursday, choosing to swing east in pursuit of faster winds in what Richards described as a "game-winning manoeuvre".

Black Jack finished second, ahead of Comanche and Infotrack.

Richards said he was particularly proud of how 14-year-old Wild Oats XI fared against the quality of the other supermaxis, calling it "the Phar Lap of yachting" in a nod to Australia's greatest racehorse.

'Could not be happier'

The result is a relief for the Oatley family, which owns Wild Oats XI, after the boat had to retire from the 2015 and 2016 races. The vessel's previous win was in 2014.

"This is absolutely fantastic. Words fail me," owner Sandy Oatley told commercial broadcaster Channel Seven.

"I could not be happier. The whole family is really happy."

Lighter winds meant the fleet could not match last year's record pace of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds set by Comanche.

Wild Oats XI finished with a time of one day, 19 hours, seven minutes and 21 seconds.

Attention now turns to the handicap honours -- the race to be the vessel that performs best according to size -- with 2017 winner TP52 Ichi Ban in the lead.

The fleet in the often brutal contest dropped from 85 to 80 during the dash south from Sydney, with Hong Kong supermaxi Scallywag the most prominent retirement with a broken bowsprit.

Challenging conditions and storms are not unknown to the race, with six people dying on one night in 1998 when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the treacherous Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania.

The fleet marked the 20th anniversary of the tragedy on Thursday with a moment of silence and a reading of a message of commemoration.

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The victory was particularly special for Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards and his crew, after being stripped of their win last year when they were handed a one-hour penalty over a near-collision ROLEX

Graphic on the Sydney-Hobart yacht race. AFP

The 74th edition of the annual Sydney-Hobart race was characterised by a neck-and-neck battle between four supermaxis AFP

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