Star supermaxi Wild Oats XI pulls out of 2023 Sydney-Hobart
Sydney-Hobart’s most successful skipper on the real reason why nine-time champion Wild Oats XI will not race this summer.
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WILD Oats is a shock omission from the Sydney Hobart yacht race this year with the event’s most successful skipper Mark Richards revealing the race’s most famous yacht had been sidelined for the 77th edition of the blue water classic.
The 628nm race already has 74 yachts ahead of the October 27 entry deadline but the most successful yacht in the race’s history will not be one of them.
Mark Richards, who is in the USA marketing his luxury motor yacht at a boat show in Seattle, Washington, will be relaxing “somewhere with a beer in my hand” on Boxing Day after the decision not to enter the all-conquering supermaxi, owned by the Oatley family.
Richards said the nine-time line honours champion, twice overall winner on handicap, and twice race record holder was on ice for this summer.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be racing this year, which is a real shame,” Richards said.
“The family decided to have a year off.
“There’s a lot going on so we are having a little bit of a regroup and with a bit of luck we will be there next year.”
The Oatley’s last month lost their multi-million dollar motor yacht Andiamo in a fire _ estimated to be worth between $5m and $10m _ while it was berthed at Woolwich Dock on the north shore of Sydney Harbour.
“It was nothing to do with that at all,” Richards said.
“It’s totally different, just one of those things.
“There are different priorities at the moment and that’s the way it is, and you’ve got to run with it.”
Wild Oats also did not compete in 2021 after the race resumed following its Covid shutdown in 2020.
At the time, Oatley family said it was out of respect for its 1200 employees.
Holding the record of nine-time line honours winning captain, and known for his intense leadership during the frenetic starts on Sydney Harbour, Richards won’t have a care in the world this summer.
“I’ll have my feet up somewhere with a beer in my hand,” Richards said.
“I’m going to make sure I’m enjoying myself whatever I do.”
Reigning champion Andoo Comanche will be back to defend its line honours title against fellow supermaxis SHK Scallywag and Wild Thing 100.
Tasmanian yacht Alive is back for a show at winning the race on overall handicap for a second time, taking out the title in 2018 for Tasmania owner Phil Turner and skipper Duncan Hine.
Originally published as Star supermaxi Wild Oats XI pulls out of 2023 Sydney-Hobart
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