Mon, 26 Dec 2005 at 13:00

Wild Oats XI wins trifecta    
Thu, 29 Dec 2005

'Wild Oats powers towards the finish just under headsail alone to take the historic Line, Overall and Race Record Trifecta.'    © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Bob Oatley’s 98 footer has completed the historic Trifecta in the 61st Rolex Sydney to Hobart race. Yesterday morning she completed the double line honours and a new race record, reducing Nokia's 1999 record by 67 minutes.

Since then its been the usual Hobart waiting game to see if any of the mid-sized boats could take a corrected time victory.

By 5am this morning it had become clear that IRC Division D leader, Graeme Wood’s Sydney 47CR Wot’s Next, still 14 miles north east of Tasman Light could not make the time needed to challenge the Oats, nor could Bill Wild’s HW42 Wedgetail, at that time already around Tasman Light.

Wild Oats has won IRC Division, ahead of Stewart Thwaites Konica Minolta. Wot’s Next is the clear Division D winner, with Alan Whitley’s Beneteau 44.7 ahead of Fuzzy Logic.

Division B is still close with Ray Robert’s DK46 Quantum Racing only a few minutes behind Wedgetail on corrected handicap.