Sydney to Hobart: Act of kindness set to get damaged super maxi Scallywag to start line for big race

An act of good sportsmanship from a complete stranger might just save the day for the Scallywag supermaxi crew rushing to replace damaged sails in time for the Sydney to Hobart.

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Masts have been flown in by helicopter, booms freighted by ship, rudders flown cargo across the word and yachts even transported by wide load trucks in the middle of the night so crews could be on the start line of the Sydney to Hobart.

But it now appears an act of good sportsmanship from a complete stranger closer to home might save the day for the Scallywag supermaxi crew rushing to replace damaged sails in time for the Sydney to Hobart.

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Last-minute emergencies and races against the clock to replace broken equipment have become a race staple.

Scallywag are in a race against time to make the starting line.

But skipper David Witt is hopeful he has found a solution closer to home to replace two shredded sails that will get the Hong Kong entry on the Boxing Day start line of the race south.

“We contacted the guys on InfoTrack and their owner, a guy I have never even met before has offered us anything that fits,” Witt said of Sydney sailor and legal software businessman Christian Beck, who bought the 100-footer last year after it won the race under Anthony Bell as Perpetual Loyal in 2016.

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Witt cannot be competitive in a traditional Sydney to Hobart without replacement sails for the two which disintegrated on Tuesday while racing.

“He’s offered to lend whatever we need for the race,” said Witt, who this year lead a Scallywag crew in the Volvo round the world race.

“How’s that for being a good sport.”

Witt said Wild Oats X1’s Sandy Oatley also offered to help but his sail did not fit Scallywag.

Scallywag will be looking for her first Sydney-Hobart win this year.

Scallywag is the only one of the five supermaxis racing this year not to have won the Sydney to Hobart line honours race previously.

But with a new keel fitted, numerous new sails and a crew race hardened from competing in the Volvo race she is seen as a major chance of rectifying the omission in 2018 - if the offered sails are suitable.

A fleet of 89 is expected to start the 628-nautical mile race on Boxing Day including last year’s fastest time winner Comanche and overall winner Ichi Ban.

Looking to press Matt Allen and his Ichi Ban crew for the handicap win this year are the likes of the Stacey Jackson skippered 66-footer Wild Oats X, Noel Cornish’s St Jude, the 52-footer Gweilo and Zoe Thompson’s 40-footer Grace O’Malley.