The monster yacht which only just fits under the Harbour Bridge

The operating systems on Comanche, worth more than $10 million and favourite for the Sydney to Hobart, resemble a “Formula One program”. Watch the video.

The boat to beat in this year’s Sydney to Hobart barely fits under the Harbour Bridge, missing by about 2m.

It’s tight enough for most of the people on board to look up, just in case.

It is just one of many astonishing features of Comanche, the $10m to $15m supermaxi.

The Daily Telegraph was given exclusive access to the yacht yesterday, as the crew of 19 took part in a final hitout before the main event.

The yacht is so big, it can’t be properly lifted out of the water in Sydney without the assistance of a massive crane. The mast measures almost half a rugby league field and the crew say the “maximum mast compression, when it’s fully loaded”, is an astonishing 150 tonnes.

Daily Telegraph. 11, December, 2024. 100-foot supermaxi MasterLock Comanche competing in the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club race on Sydney Harbour today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We maintain the boat like a Formula One program, to make sure it’s at 100 per cent every time it leaves the dock,” Harry Smith, one of Comanche’s crewmen said. “A boat of this size requires a lot of attention. There is also a full-time engineer on board.”

Smith didn’t get another word out, before a cry of “TACK” rang out across the deck. Suddenly, the yacht shifted to a 30-degree angle as the crew manoeuvred to get wind through the sails.

The experience resembled something between a motion-simulator and a rollercoaster.

“You get used to it,” said Richie Allanson, a sailing veteran who was controlling the tightness of the main sail, his hands glued to a rope all afternoon.

Daily Telegraph. 11, December, 2024. 100-foot supermaxi MasterLock Comanche competing in the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club race on Sydney Harbour today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“Essentially this is (like) when you press the accelerator on your car. We are trying to get the balance right between the two sails so you can go as fast as possible.”

Throughout the afternoon Comanche hit 20 knots, which is about half of its maximum speed.

“This boat can reach up to 40 knots, which is almost 75km/h,” said Matt Allen, the co-skipper of Comanche.

“When that’s happening, there is water going everywhere. Solid water. Spray. It’s a pretty rough ride to Hobart.

“It’s hard to hang on, it’s hard work the whole way.”

Allen, who is vice president of the Australian Olympic Committee, is chartering Comanche with co-skipper, James Mayo. The pair are highly successful businessmen but also long-time sailors with enormous race experience.

But the key to a successful race is communication, crew member Smith said.

“The biggest thing with a yacht of this size is that everyone has to work together, without talking with one ­another,” he said.

Originally published as The monster yacht which only just fits under the Harbour Bridge