2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – Comanche hasn't quit yet

by Jim Gale, RSHYR Media on 28 Dec 2014 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - The crew on the American super maxi Comanche have not thrown in the towel. They do not believe the race for line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart is over despite Wild Oats XI’s commanding lead.

'Nothing is over until it is over,' was the determined word from crewman Kimo Worthington this morning.

Over the past three hours they have steadily whittled down the Australian yacht’s lead from 40 miles to less than 20, and they believe that if they can get that gap down a little more by the time the leaders reach Tasman Island they will be in a position to capitalise on any misfortune that befalls the race leader.

'The guys have pushed really hard to get the gap down,' Worthington said. 'It is going to be very tricky down there. We are going to cross our fingers and hope we will be a little lucky. We want to put on a good show in the Derwent River.'

The fluky conditions forecast for Tasman later today have decided the race before. It is the frontrunner’s dilemma, when the lead boat sails into a hole and watches her rival sail around her. It happened to Wild Oats XI in 2011, when Investec Loyal sailed around her to win the race. Incredibly, Stan Honey, who is navigating Comanche this year was the navigator on Investec Loyal that year.

Indeed Wild Oats XI owes her lead to yesterday’s bizarre conditions in Bass Strait. The lithe Australian squeezed through the gate of a high pressure ridge moving across the Strait and then scooted away from the heavier, beamy Comanche as she wallowed in the breathless air.

'We didn't like that at all,' says Worthington. 'The head sea was awful. We were just banging away while Oats sailed away from us.'

But whatever happens today Worthington says the crew are delighted with how well their untested boat has performed, her Bass Strait misadventures notwithstanding.

'We knew we wouldn't be good in five knots and a head sea, but look at the last few hours. We’re very pleased.'