Wild Oats XI in its ninth Sydney to Hobart win: Gold Coast sailing stalwart Rob Mundle on the epic race
He’s seen the all the highs and lows the race can offer, but watching Wild Oats XI taking out a win in the prestigious Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was one of the most amazing finishes this Gold Coast sailing stalwart has ever seen.
Beaches & Fishing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Beaches & Fishing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HE’S seen the all the highs and lows the race can offer, but watching Wild Oats XI taking out its ninth line honours win in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Friday was one of the most amazing finishes the team’s media manager Rob Mundle has ever seen.
The Gold Coast-based veteran journalist, author and former Southport Yacht Club commodore described the nail biting win in Tasmania as a 630 nautical mile game of chess.
In the end less than 29 minutes separated the first three finishers.
“The race for line honours was an absolute game of chess all the way down,” Mr Mundle said.
Black Jack and Comanche finished second and third respectively with the second place winner accusing Wild Oats of having an electronic identifier switched off which put them at a disadvantage.
OTHER NEWS:
Simple solution to Coast suburb’s parking woes
Top 10 crimes that gripped the Gold Coast
‘Got a Warhol or Picasso? We want it’
Mr Mundle said the ideal sailing conditions experienced during the race pushed sailors to the limit.
“This year with it being down wind and relatively easy, it was a massive physical and mental challenge keeping the boats at their maximum speed and making sure you have the right tactics — if you miss one wind shift it all starts falling out the back door,” he said.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN FOR JUST $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
The conditions were in contrast with tragic 54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 20 years ago, on which Mr Mundle wrote his best selling book Fatal Storm.
“There were a lot of people who reliving those moments this year who were out there racing,” Mr Mundle said of the race where six sailors were killed in rough seas.
“At 5pm on Thursday they read a special tribute to the six sailors who died in that race over the radio as a mark of respect to the sailors who died in that race.”