Wild Oats XI begins 24-hour qualifier for the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobar

by Rob Mundle on 2 Dec 2009 Bob Oatley’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Race record holder, the 30.5 metre supermaxi, Wild Oats XI, was pushing into 15-20 knot headwinds south of Sydney late today on the first stage of her 24-hour qualifier for the classic, which starts on Boxing Day.

It will be the final overnight trial for the recently modified yacht, which is going for an unprecedented fifth consecutive line honours in the Hobart race.

Skipper Mark Richards said that the trial, which is expected to take the big boat to a point south of Wollongong then north to Port Stephens before returning to Sydney, would be treated in every sense as though it was the real thing.

'We are heading out there today to make sure the boat is 100 percent race ready for the Hobart, and that every system is 100 percent perfect,' Richards said. 'It will not be a cruise.'

The 24-hour run, which must be completed for Wild Oats XI to be eligible for the Hobart will, most importantly, reveal what additional pressures will come on the crew, which has been reduced from 24 to 18 for the big race. At the same time the yacht’s reserve helmsman, Mike ‘Moose’ Sanderson, will get his first chance to slot into his role and acquaint himself with the yacht and its’ systems. Iain Murray also will be acting as a helmsman.

Sanderson, who flew in from his home in New Zealand earlier this week, is considered to be one of the world’s best offshore racing sailors. Among his many achievements over decades of ocean racing was a crushing victory in the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race round the world. In 2006 he received the prestigious International Sailing Federation World Yachtsman of the Year award.

At last report Wild Oats XI was pressing south in a three to four metre swell at speeds of up to 12 knots. Once Richards is happy with the upwind performance of the yacht he will then turn her north so the massive spinnaker can be set.

'It’s going to be a good test for us overnight because while the wind will go lighter the seas will remain lumpy,' said navigator Adrienne Cahalan just before Wild Oats XI left its dock at Woolwich this morning. 'We are going to have to be on our toes if we are going to stay at maximum speed.'

Wild Oats XI will be raced only once prior to Boxing Day: she will be going for her third consecutive line honours in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour on December 15.