Wild Oats XI breaks record

by Rob Kothe on 28 Dec 2005 Drama this morning as the newest supermaxi in the world, Bob Oatley’s December launched Reichel Pugh 98 footer Wild Oats XI races for the line, aiming to break the race record in the 628 mile Rolex Sydney to Hobart race and to win the treble, of race record, line honours and handicap victory.

The Sail-World Team has been on Derwent River as the drama unfolded.

At 4:25 Wild Oats XI was two miles north of Tasman Light sailing in a 26 knot northerly and when she rounded the corner she was just 40.8 miles from the Derwent River finish line.

At 04:54 am she was round the corner sailing west at 15 knots towards Cape Raoul with 37.5 miles to go.

At 5:30am she was five nautical miles NW of Cape Raoul 26 miles from the finish, sailing at 13 knots. At that time Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo was seven miles NE of Tasman Island.

At 6:25am she was three nautical miles SE of Iron Pot, 14 miles from the finish, doing 12 knots in a 12 knot northerly.

At 7:05 she is off Kinston five miles from the finish, with a broken mainsail top battern, she cannot get her correct headsail up, but is sailing with a number six on the inner forestay, in a 20 knot northerly.

At 7:15, with the broken headsail batten ragging severely, the decision was made to drop the mainsail and its now lashed roughly to the boom. She now has a 1 medium and staysail only but is blasting towards the finish line at 17 knots.

At 7:35 she sailed past John Garrow Light, now with staysail down, wind is gusting to 22-25 knots, but the water is flat. Mark Richards is all concentration and the crew are tight packed on the rail.

At 7:45, she was one tack from the finish, Iain Murray talking to Mark Richards, the breeze has dropped as they enter more protected waters. The Oats is sailing at nine knots.

Wild Oats XI has crossed the line, she has the gun. Finishing time 08:00:10 Elapsed time 1 day 18 hours, 40 minutes 10 seconds.

She has broken Nokia's 1999 record by 67 minutes and 52 seconds.

The Fat Lady is in full song!!!!