Drama in Sydney to Hobart as Comanche launches protest against Wild Oats XI
LDV Comanche has lodged a formal protest against fellow line-honours favourite Wild Oats XI after a near-miss between the yachts soon after the start of the 73rd Sydney to Hobart.
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THE Australian supermaxi LDV Comanche has lodged a formal protest against fellow line honours favourite Wild Oats X1 after a near-miss between the yachts soon after the start of the 73rd Sydney to Hobart.
Comanche, which hoisted its protest flag after the incident, informed race officials it would pursue a protest over what is believed to be a tacking incident within an hour of the start of the race on Sydney Harbour on Tuesday.
It is understood the Wild Oats crew, who have indicated they do not believe they have infringed any rule, could suffer a time penalty if found guilty.
Comanche has six hours to file a protest after her arrival in Hobart, which will be heard by an international jury.
“We didn’t think there was an infraction,’’ Wild Oats XI navigator Ian “Fresh” Burns said late on Tuesday.
“We discussed the 720-degree penalty and decided we didn’t need to under the circumstances.”
A fast reaction from America’s Cup-winning skipper James Spithill helped prevent a potential race-ending collision after some perilously close combat with Wild Oats XI in the opening hour of the Sydney to Hobart.
The Mark Richards-skippered Wild Oats XI appeared to miss LDV Comanche by the closest of margins as the two supermaxis crossed paths in some extremely close and feisty combat at sea.
Members of the LDV Comanche crew remonstrated with Wild Oats XI after the close call.
Had they hit, it could have been game over for one, or both, of the Sydney-to-Hobart line honours favourites.
The goal of most skippers is to avoid any close contact for the entire race but someone evidently forgot to tell two of the favourites.
Over the years, numerous yachts have had their race ended in Sydney Harbour by accidents and collisions.
Comanche, meanwhile, was almost on record pace as she opened up a sizeable lead in her nearest rivals in “sweet” conditions.
At 9pm she was just 20nm behind where Perpetual Loyal was last year at the same time and 10 miles ahead of her nearest rival.
Just 15 minutes later she had made up another seven nautical miles to be just 13nm off race record-breaker.
The supermaxi was revelling in the downwind conditions, hitting speeds of up to 26 knots as she flew down the NSW coast with Wild Oats X1, InfoTrack and Black Jack in her wake.
Her rivals had expected Comanche to clear out on Tuesday night but are still hopeful they would be able to claw their way back up when the weather turned in their favour.
Tuesday’s start was mostly uneventful and the close calls came after the fleet cleared a chaotic Sydney Harbour from three separate start lines.
With thousands watching on from the foreshore and all manners of craft — kayaks, skiffs, pleasure boats and yachts — the 102-strong fleet was sent on its way in a gentle easterly by a replica canon at 1pm.
The menacing, black-hulled LDV Comanche was quick off the mark before Mark Bradford and his team on Black Jack claimed the honour of being the first yacht to sail through the heads and out to sea.
Last night Comanche had made the most of increasing winds to overhaul early leader Black Jack and her new nemesis Wild Oats XI.
While the fleet started the race under record pace, there is still potential for a new mark to be set by the supermaxis in the 628 nautical mile race.