Wild Oats shaves over an hour off record in Sydney race
Wild Oats shaved more than an hour off the previous record set by Nokia in 1999 when it entered
Hobart’s Constitution Dock.
The 30-metre (98-foot) yacht, only launched earlier this month, completed the bluewater classic about an hour and 16 minutes ahead of nearest rival Alfa Romeo of New Zealand.
The victory puts Wild Oats in the running for a handicap win, potentially making it the first yacht since the inaugural race in 1945 to take out the treble of line honours, race record and handicap win.
Third across the line was the Australian supermaxi Skandia, skippered by Grant Wharrington. Fourth was another supermaxi, Konica Minolta, skippered by New Zealander Stewart Thwaites.
Accompanied to the finish line by a large flotilla of spectator craft, Wild Oats finished the 628-nautical mile race in one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds to beat Nokia’s record by one hour, seven minutes and 52 seconds.
Lighter than expected winds kept the yacht off record time in the early stages of the race, which began in Sydney on Monday.
Wild Oats led the fleet out of Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day but was briefly overtaken by Alfa Romeo before regaining the lead.
Richards put the victory down to his team’s tactic of hugging the coast, while Alfa Romeo went offshore in search of stronger winds.
