Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 latest: Supermaxi Scallywag’s massive weight loss for last hurrah

The equivalent weight of six baby elephants has been taken off the yacht as the Scallywag supermaxi readies for her most serious attempt ever to win the famed Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Scallywag is one of the favourites in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart thanks to the weather forecast. Picture: ROLEX/ ANDREA FRANCOLINI

It’s the great weight loss program Scallywag skipper David Witt hopes will deliver the famous supermaxi its first ever line win in the Sydney to Hobart - and first to a foreign raider since Comanche back in 2015.

The 100-footer, racing for the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and owned by Malaysian Seng Huang Lee, has been spruced up in a major refit for the race with a new set of sails and most importantly, a new mast an extraordinary 600kg lighter than her old one.

“This is a last chance for us, our last hooray because she’s going to Europe for three years after this,’’ Witt said as the yacht moved into one of the pole positions for line honours thanks to the latest challenging forecast.

The yacht will be shipped to Europe post the Sydney to Hobart and based in La Spezia in Italy for campaigns including the Middle Sea race, St Tropez and other major events.

Witt is particularly excited about the new mast with the weight saved crucial to the yachts performance.

Scallywag missed the race last year for a major refit. Picture: Andrea Francolin/Rolex

“We moved the mast back to balance it better and it’s 600kg lighter than the old one which dated back to 2011,’’ he said. “It was the boat’s Achilles heel, that extra weight.

“The boss has given us every chance in this race.’’

Scallywag has repeatedly threatened to take the win in past Sydney to Hobarts, but needs quite specific conditions to show her wares an gain an edge over her main rival, defending champion and Andoo Comanche skipper John “Herman” Winning.

The Sydney to Hobart fleet now stands at just 103 with Andoo Comanche also one of the race favourites with the yacht taking line honours in four past races under different owners, sponsors and names.

Last year she delivered Winning and his team victory over LawConnect and Black Jack with Wild Oats fourth.

The owners of Wild Oats decided not to race this year but Scallywag returns after a year off for her refit and overhaul.

In 2021 Scallywag finished third behind Blackjack and LawConnect and in 2019 was fourth across the line.