Sydney-Hobart: Wild Oats XI retains line honours after protest against it is thrown out
An international jury has reached a decision on the protest against Wild Oats XI for allegedly failing to turn on its Automatic Identification System during the race.
Sailing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sailing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WILD Oats XI has held on to its 2018 Sydney-Hobart line honours title after a protest against it was thrown out, avoiding losing the race on a technicality for the second consecutive year.
An international jury heard a protest against Wild Oats XI for allegedly failing to turn on its Automatic Identification System during the race.
The jury, which is independent of the race, found the protest to be “invalid”.
Emerging from the protest room, Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards was a happy man.
“Common sense has prevailed,” he said.
“This is a family and team of integrity.
“We go to the utmost lengths to do everything by the rules, sail by the rules.
“It’s just a shame that this came about.
“We totally respect the decision and we can now move on — time for a cold Cascade.”
Asked if the AIS was switched on, Richards said: “Our AIS was on the whole time.”
TASSIE YACHT’S DRAMATIC RESCUE
Wild Oats XI crossed the finish line first last year but its win was handed to Comanche after the jury found Oats had committed an illegal manoeuvre across the bow of Comanche shortly after the start of the race.
At today’s hearing at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the race committee was unaware Wild Oats XI’s AIS was not functioning until the crew of second-placed Black Jack brought it to their attention.
Head of the jury, Russell Green, said no penalty was necessary.
“The protest has been deemed invalid,” Green said.
“Shortly after finishing the owner of Black Jack [Peter Harburg] submitted a report to the race committee alleging the AIS of Wild Oats had not transmitted throughout the race.
“Prior to the report the race committee had no knowledge of an issue with Wild Oats XI’s AIS.
MORE NEWS:
PICTURE SPECIAL: TASTE OF TASMANIA
RHH BUILDER IN FIGHT OVER LATE FEES
“As a result of that report, the race committee conducted an investigation into AIS tracking records in respect of Wild Oats XI.
“The race committee subsequently submitted the protest, and the conclusion we came to was the race committee’s investigation and protest arose from the report of Black Jack, a competitor in the race and therefore a person with a conflict of interest within the meaning of the racing rules of sailing.
“The race committee’s investigation was prudent, however in these circumstances for the protest to be valid, a competitor with the information about a potential rule breach must lodge a protest.”
Future stars set to light up sailing titles
Some of Tasmania and Australia’s most promising young sailors will go head-to-head in two state titles this weekend. Here’s who to keep an eye on.
‘It was really scary’: Giant fright for Atlantic solo rower Liz Wardley
Atlantic Challenge solo rower Liz Wardley was worried she might be on the end of a marlin attack but instead it was a much scarier creature which caused a shocking fright for the ‘crazy Aussie’.