Sydney to Hobart 2024: Wild Thing 100 a dark horse for overall victory

It could be the most schizophrenic yacht in the Sydney to Hobart with this dark horse for a major win starting life as different boat with a different name and even a different length.

Wild Thing 100 is chasing success in the overall chase.

It could be the most schizophrenic yacht in the Sydney to Hobart with this dark horse starting life as different boat with a different name and even a different length.

But that hasn’t stopped Wild Thing 100 emerging as a dark horse for major honours in what is shaping up as a rambunctious 2024 Sydney to Hobart.

Skippered by 32-time Sydney to Hobart campaigner Grant Wharington, the Queensland yacht started life as another boat completely, was extended 20 foot in a major remodel and is now being raced by a bunch of good mates.

It also sports one of the most eye catching paint jobs of the Sydney to Hobart fleet readying for the race south.

And while a new mast is still on order for the 80th Sydney to Hobart next year this former champion has aspirations of a big success in the 79th if the conditions play out.

As the lightest yacht in the 100 footer space and with a mast significantly shorter than her rivals improving her rating, Wild Thing 100 could well steal the limelight in the race for the overall honours.

ROLLING WEATHER UPDATES

URM Group (L), Alive (C) and Super Maxi Wild Thing 100 (R) at the start last year.

“If it’s a big boat race we will be really competitive for the overall,’’ said Wharington, who has aboard the yacht his daughter Georgie, 22, contesting her second Sydney to Hobart.

“Master Lock Comanche and LawConnect are 10 and 15 tonnes heavier than us and that makes quite a difference.

“Anything over 15 knots down wind we should be able to stay with them. We will be a bit slower up wind but not too much.

“For our handicap, they have to give us about six hours to Hobart in the overall And that’s a goal. I’ve never won the Tattersalls Cup.’’

Grant Wharington and daughter Georgia are racing together. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The forecast for the Sydney to Hobart is indicating the overall race will be fought out between the big or biggest yachts in the fleet which included the 100-footers, the likes of URM, Caro, Whisper, Celestial 70 and last year’s winner Alive.

The entire fleet will make a fast start to the race on December 26 before a front hits them in Bass Strait on December 27.

How each team navigate some tricky conditions down the east coast of Tasmania and to the finish in Hobart will determine which size boat wins.

While Wharington will be racing with his daughter, navigator Carl Craaford will be doing the race with his son Ben who is heading to Hobart for the first time.

Originally published as Sydney to Hobart 2024: Wild Thing 100 a dark horse for overall victory