Major setback for supermaxi Wild Oats X1 in dramatic lead-up race to Sydney to Hobart

Wild Oats X1 was one of an extaordinary 23 yachts to retire at sea with damage or other issues in a major shakedown for the 75th Sydney to Hobart.

Wild Oats X1 suffered damage in a lead-up race to the Sydney to Hobart.

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Wild Oat XI’s defence of the Sydney to Hobart line honours crown has suffered a setback but tactician Iain Murray has confirmed there is time to repair major damage to the supermaxis mast and deck prior to the start of the 75th anniversary race.

Just two hours into the windy Cabbage Tree Island race on Friday night, Wild Oats suffered visible damage to its rig and deck while racing off Terrigal.

Wild Oats XI and Comanche during the start of the last Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

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Wild Oats, which is based at Woolwich Dock, was one of an 23 yachts from a starting fleet of 57 to retire from the Sydney to Hobart shakedown for various reasons, including hull and sail damage, crew injury and gear and steering damage.

“We were in 30 knots so it wasn’t the worse we have seen and then the mast just compressed on itself,’’ Murray said..

The incident saw damage to the deck of the 100-footer which headlines the 75th edition of the Sydney to Hobart, a race renown for the wild winds and big seas.

Avalon’s Murray said the Wild Oats XI crew, who predominantly hail from the northern beaches, were lucky the incident happened in the 180nm race contested by numerous yachts in the Sydney to Hobart fleet and not the 630nm race to Hobart which starts on Boxing Day.

Black Jack racing in the last Sydney to Hobart.

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“Better now that in the Hobart,’’ he said. “It will be off the water for a while.

“We have enough time (to get it fixed) . It won’t be stopping us.’’

However the boat and crew will be shorebound while the repairs are carried out with the Big Boat race on Sydney Harbour on December 10 potentially her next race appearance on the water.

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The Queensland yacht supermaxi Black Jack took line honours in the Cabbage Tree Island race and Matt Donald and Chris Townsend’s Gweillo the overall handicap honours.