Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023: rebuilt Wild Thing out to make waves, entries, distance, history

It’s the ‘Botox boat’ super-sized in a bizarre way for the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race by a sailing mad scientist out to shock and awe rivals in the famous ocean classic.

It’s the ‘Botox boat’ which has had more work done than an ageing Hollywood legend with the goal of playing a starring role in this year’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Sailing’s self professed mad scientist Grant Wharington is behind the transformation of an 80-foot boat into a snazzy 100-foot super maxi on a mission to win the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Wharington has also rebranded the old Stefan Racing yacht boat Wild Thing 100 for the race south and while she is still being plumped out for the race in a boat shed in Queensland, she will be ready well in time to be on the start line of this year’s race on Boxing Day.

A massive 20-foot longer after being sliced into four pieces, fattened out in the middle, extended in the rear and then rebuilt as a supermaxi, Wild Thing will also sport a new livery for the race with a dramatic black and pink colour paint job.

It will compete the transformation of the livid pink and rainbowed 80-footer Stefan Racing - which finished sixth over the line in last year’s race - into a super maxi with the potential to not just claim line honours but potentially the prized overall win.

OLI THE MOGGY TO MAKE RACE HISTORY

Stefan Racing mixing it with her bigger rivals back in 2021. Picture: ROLEX/ ANDREA FRANCOLINI

“We cut her in half and put four metres in the middle and two metres at the back and it looks like it was almost meant to be,’’ said Wharington who has extended other yachts in the past.

Significantly, Wild Thing 100 is much lighters than her super maxi rivals Andoo Comanche, Scallywag and LawConnect which would likely put her in pole position ahead of the trio in particular conditions in the 628nm race to Tasmania later this year.

“We are hedging our bets to see how it works out,’’ said Wharington, originally from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula but now based on the Gold Coast.

A fleet of 100 plus yachts is expected on the start line of the 2023 race with the close of entry late Friday.

Included in this are 11 international entries and multiple two-handed boats.

Herman Winning celebrating Andoo Comanche’s win in the last Sydney to Hobart.

Missing will be former winner Black Jack from Queensland which is overseas and multiple winner Wild Oats from NSW.

But the reimagined Wild Thing 100 will add plenty of spice to the line honours battle with Wharington competing in his 30th race to Hobart and also a former winner with his old yacht Skandia winning back in 2013.

Grant Wharington with one of his earlier Wild Thing yachts.

The first Sydney to Hobart as held back in 1945 when nine yachts cruised to Hobart and the 34-footer Rani took line and overall honours.

In 2023 the fleet will boats numerous former line and handicap winners including John ‘Herman’ Winning’s 100 footer Andoo Comanche which claimed the fastest time to Hobart last year.

Also racing will be the former multiple overall winner Love & War and last year’s victor Celestial.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023: rebuilt Wild Thing out to make waves, entries, distance, history