Race committe lodges protest lodged against Wild Oats XI
UPDATED: A sensational twist to Wild Oats XI’s ninth Sydney-Hobart line honours victory has been thrown at the team with a protest being lodged against the boat for the second year running.
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UPDATED: A SENSATIONAL twist to Wild Oats XI’s ninth Sydney-Hobart line honours victory was thrown at the team late on Friday night when a protest was lodged against the boat for the second year running – this time by the event’s Race Committee.
The supermaxi’s victory is now under a cloud after the event’s regulatory body decided to investigate why Wild Oats failed to have its Automatic Identification System operational in the final stages of the race.
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Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Paul Billingham said: “The Race Committee is independent of the organising authority of the race to ensure objectivity is maintained and seen to be maintained in circumstances such as this.”
The protest will be held in the Jury Room at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania at 1pm on Saturday.
Wild Oats was the first boat to Hobart last year but had its victory stripped after the jury found it had tacked illegally arcoss the bow of Comanche shortly after the start in Sydney. Comanche, which crossed in second place, was awarded the race win.
EARLIER: SHE’S been dubbed the Phar Lap of world yacht racing by skipper Mark Richards and Wild Oats XI will be back for a shot at a record 10th Sydney-Hobart title next summer.
After crossing the finish for win number nine at 8.07am yesterday, Richards revealed how he won the race — he left behind more than a ton of sails to make his 100-footer more lean and mean, and his tacticians picked the race-winning wind shift off Tasman Island at sunrise.
“We basically sailed around the opposition and put ourselves in position where, when the breeze filled in from the southwest, we were in the right spot and off we went,” Richards said.
“That was the race-winning manoeuvre right there — the guys did a fantastic job.”
GALLERY: WILD OATS TAKES LINE HONOURS
Wild Oats slipped across Storm Bay and up the River Derwent, surrounded by media boats, spectator craft and police boats, and took the gun in a time of 1 day, 19 hours, 7 minutes and 21 seconds.
All four supermaxis were on the Derwent at the same time — a first in the 74-year history of the race — with Black Jack claiming second at 8.35am, followed by Comanche at 8.36am and InfoTrack at 8.49am.
So far, race organisers have taken no action for Wild Oats’ Automatic Identification System electronic tracker not working for the last part of the race.
“The rules say it’s got to be on all the time,” said Black Jack’s owner Peter Harburg, who ruled out a protest.
“They knew where we were all the time, and we couldn’t see her, so that has disadvantaged us and Comanche and we are very disappointed in that.”
It was Wild Oats’ first win since 2014, having retired twice and then a smack-down from the race jury last year.
Richards described the win as redemption for last year when Wild Oats crossed the line first but was stripped of the title by the jury, which found it guilty of an illegal tack across the bow of Comanche just after the start of the race.
“It was a day of redemption for us, that’s for sure,” Richards said.
“This is one of the best yachting wins of my life, and I’ve won a lot of races.
“It’s one of the best feelings, not just for myself but for the whole team.
“After an event like last year and to come through and redeem yourself like this is a wonderful feeling — money can’t buy that sort of stuff.”
He insisted it was not motivated by revenge.
“We made a mistake and we paid for it,” he said.
“That’s just sport. There’s no issues there at all.”
As for the ageing Wild Oats, which won its first Sydney-Hobart on debut in 2005, “Ricko” was full of praise.
“What an Australian icon,” he said.
“It’s 14 years old and to do what she did today I think is just an amazing achievement.
“She’s a remarkable machine — the Phar Lap of yachting that’s for sure.”
Victorian yacht Chutzpah and defending champion Ichi Ban (NSW) were best placed to beat Tasmanian entry Alive for overall handicap.
EARLIER: REVENGE was sweet for the crew of Wild Oats XI when it took line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race at 8.07 this morning.
The Mark Richards-skippered 100-footer sailed into Hobart for a record ninth line honours crown after its star-studded crew used cunning and stealth to sail around its rivals Comanche and Black Jack off Tasman Island at daybreak.
Along with Infotrack, all four supermaxis were on the Derwent at the same time – a first in the 74-year history of the race – with Black Jack claiming second at 8.35, followed by Comanche at 8.36 and Infotrack at 8.49.
After Wild Oats crossed the line first but lost the race to Comanche on a protest last year, Richards was over the moon.
“It was a day of redemption for us, that’s for sure,” “Ricko” said.
“After last year’s result it was so disappointing.
“Today, whether people like it or not, it was Wild Oats’ 10th time over the line first regardless of what anyone says.
“We are just so happy with this result.”
Richards said it was an “amazing contest all the way to the end”.
“I take my hat off to all of the supermaxi boats,” he said.
“They all did an awesome job. We all came into the Derwent together and what more could you ask for.
“It’s a very proud day for myself and the whole Wild Oats team and the Oatley family.
“We’re just so happy to be here.”
Moments before Wild Oats crossed the line off Castray Esplanade, Richards surprised Dan Oatley – the grandson of Wild Oats’ original owner, the late Bob Oatley – by handing him the helm for the finish.
A quiet little welcome #TassieStyle for @WildOatsXI taking line-honours in the @rshyr (Pic: AlastairBett) pic.twitter.com/XoflK1gYo5
— Discover Tasmania (@tasmania) 27 December 2018
As the gun sounded, Richards held up nine fingers to signify the number of Wild Oats wins, and the crew hugged, shook hands and slapped backs in celebration.
Thousands cheered as Oats docked at Kings Pier, and as the crew celebrated with champagne and medals, watched the other supermaxis cross the finish.
About 14 yachts are expected to finish the race today, including Tasmanian entry Alive, is on track to claim fifth on line honours and at 10am led the race on overall handicap.
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