Sydney to Hobart favourites Andoo Comanche, Wild Oats, LawConnect, Black Jack at weather’s mercy

The pre-race Sydney to Hobart talk has all been about the fastest and fattest supermaxi in the world. Now the long range weather forecast has blown a skinny old favourite back in the mix.

Wild Oats XI racing down the coast after the start of the 2019 race.

The weather has thrown up a new rival for the ocean mauler Andoo Comanche in the 2022 Sydney to Hobart yacht race and she’s lighter, far older and much skinner than the beamy boat they call “the beast’’.

An evolving long range forecast on Monday has far more nor’easterly in it than before, meaning more downwind sailing for the fleet which is a sweet spot for Wild Oats and her crew.

The 2022 edition now has the potential to be a record breaker.

“It (the forecast) is looking better than it was before,’’ said legendary US navigator Stan Honey, a man who has helped guide Comanche to her previous three victories in the Sydney to Hobart but is now racing aboard Wild Oats for this year’s race south.

How long the nor’easterly stays in, how strong it is across Bass Strait and when and if it is stopped in its tracks by a change are all scenarios being looked at closely as the clock winds down to the 1pm start on December 26.

The race to Hobart takes sailors past some of the most stunnign scenery in the world. Pic: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

The John Winning skippered Andoo Comanche has assumed favouritism for the line honours after a series of wins in lead-up races and courtesy of being the newest 100-footer after a launch in 2014 and having a top team guiding her south.

Wild Oats X1, owned by Hamilton Island’s Oatley family, in contrast is the oldest and most race hardened 100-footer, launched in 2005 and going on to claim nine line honours wins, race records and even overall victories.

The Wild Oats crew back in 2019 before Covid forced the cancellation of the 2020 race.

Despite the age, weight and shape disparities between the yachts, it is the weather which will play a crucial role in which yacht wins.

“A decent nor’easterly is our ideal weather and this is what we have asked Santa for,’’ said skipper Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards. “But equally we’d be happy with a bit of everything, particularly a southerly turning east.

“It it’s easterly or westerly then Andoo Comanche could thrash us.’’

American Netscape founder Jim Clark and his Australian supermaxi wife Kristy Hinze Clark built Comanche with the goal of breaking every major offshore sailing record and winning every major ocean race.

The yacht has done that three times in the Sydney to Hobart in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

WILD OATS X1 CREW FOR 2022 SYDNEY TO HOBART

1 Tim Wiseman Bow, 2 Craig Garnett Bow, 3 Cameron Baillie Mid Bow, 4 Matthew Mason Mast, 5 Matthew Shillington Sewer, 6 John Hildebrand Sewer/Foredeck, 7 Paul Magee Engineer, 8 Andrew Henderson Pit/Crew Boss, 9 Rodney Daniel Pit, 10 Josh Whittaker Trim, 11 Robbie Naismith Trim, 12 Nathan Ellis Trim/Main, 13 Kyle Langford Trim/Helm, 14 Paul Westlake Main, 15 Guido Belgiorno-Nettis Traveller, 16 Steve Quigley Tech/Sewer, 17 Mark Richards Skipper/Helm, 18 Chris Links Runner/Helm, 19 Stan Honey Navigator, 20 Murray Jones Tactician, 21 Daniel Oatley Sewer.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart favourites Andoo Comanche, Wild Oats, LawConnect, Black Jack at weather’s mercy