Sydney to Hobart: Wild Oats XI’s future in yacht race uncertain
She battled back to be third over the finish line in the Sydney to Hobart but Wild Oats ZX1’ future in the race is uncertain.
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There’s no official word but tactician Iain Murray said he is hopeful the northern beaches supermaxi Wild Oats will return to the Sydney to Hobart to campaign for a 10th line honours win after finishing third in the 2019 race.
Murray, the tactician aboard the 100 footer, said the team will have a debrief with the Oatley family, owners of the boat, in the wake of the 75th Sydney to Hobart to determine her racing future.
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“You would hope they will sail on,” said Murray, boss of the Australian Sailing program ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
“They have a boat that is better than it was and they have invested in it.
“I don’t think any of us would want to leave it like that.”
A wind hole the first night at sea ended Wild Oats’ hope of line honours success in the annual bluewater race.
“We just ran out of wind near Gabo Island and just sat there for hours and hours,” he said.
Overtaken by rivals half her size, Wild Oats managed to fight back to third place - but only just - beating Scallywag across the line by mere seconds.
“We didn’t disgrace ourselves,” Murray said.
“It was good to see the boat going well when the skinny boats shouldn’t have been.
“We were holding our own in the stuff we used to get slaughtered in like reaching.”
Comache, owned by Neutral Bay businessman Jim Cooney, claimed line honours with Greenwich Sailing Club’s Christian Beck and his InfoTrack crew second.
Matt Allen’s Sydney yacht Ichi Ban claimed the overall honours from Gweilo and Quest.
A fleet of 157 started the race on Boxing Day with only three yachts retiring.
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