Sydney to Hobart - Wild Oats XI shows the way out of Sydney Harbour

by Rob Mundle on 26 Dec 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart race record holder, Bob Oatley’s 30-metre supermaxi Wild Oats XI, showed the 94 yacht fleet the way out of Sydney Harbour today, but not without incident.

Only a matter of minutes after the start Wild Oats XI, with Mark Richards at the helm, and arch rivals, Perpetual Loyal, were brawling. The two giant yachts became locked in a duel for the honour of being the first yacht out of the harbour.

It appears that Wild Oats XI might have been executing a blocking move when the incident occurred. Perpetual Loyal immediately signalled a protest as there were suggestions that the two giant yachts actually came into contact. But last night word came from Wild Oats XI that there was no contact between the two racers. Soon after it became apparent that the Loyal crew thought the same way as owner Anthony Bell advised there would be no protest.

Four hours into the race the leaders were off Wollongong, 50 miles south of Sydney. They were punching into a 15-knot south easterly headwind. Wild Oats XI was the most seaward yacht, 18 miles offshore, and was leading the fleet by a narrow.

Prior to Wild Oats XI departing her dock and heading for the start line, 85-year-old Bob Oatley gave his crew a spirited pep talk. He also handed over a prized possession which would be symbolic of his presence aboard the champion yacht – his carbon fibre, custom made walking stick which has a model of the yacht’s hull as the handle. The crew responded with three rousing cheers for the owner and promised they would be doing their utmost to be first into Hobart.

Should Wild Oats XI be first to finish she will equal the impressive record of seven line honours that were claimed by the classic yacht Morna (later named Kurrewa) between 1946 and 1960.