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Wild Oats claims Sydney to Hobart win

28th December, 2013
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Wild Oats XI has claimed a record-equalling seventh Sydney to Hobart line honours victory.

Bob Oatley’s supermaxi reached the finish line in an unofficial time of two days, six hours, seven minutes, 27 seconds, well short of the race record it set last year.

Anthony Bell’s Perpetual LOYAL remained 33 nautical miles from home and veteran Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin in third a further 17 miles back with both expected to finish on Saturday night.

Wild Oats clocked speeds of 28 knots as it rocketed down the Tasmanian coast on Saturday afternoon in favourable northeasterly winds.

It opened a gap of nearly 60nm on LOYAL, which had led the race before Oats passed it on Friday afternoon.

The Mark Richards-skippered boat slowed to less than 12 knots as it turned into the River Derwent, reaching the finish line at 7.07pm (AEDT).

Thousands on the waterfront for the island capital’s summer festivals cheered on the crew of 20, who have a combined 250 Sydney to Hobart races between them.

Wild Oats’s win equals the seven line honours wins by Morna/Kurrewa IV in the 1940-50s.

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Oats confirmed her status as the iconic race’s best ever, after also setting the race record of one day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds in 2012.

That bettered her own previous mark set in 2005.

After a night of light conditions had all but ended LOYAL’s chances, the big boats rode 30-knot winds on Saturday afternoon.

But contrary to his prediction, Anthony Bell’s rebuilt LOYAL was left behind by the clinical Oats crew, who have been beaten just twice in the Boxing day race.

NSW boat Wild Rose had retaken the overall lead on handicap but changing weather conditions were expected to shake up the standings.

The back of the fleet was bracing for a pummelling when forecast southwesterly gale force winds hit Bass Strait on Saturday evening.

The Bureau of Meteorology was predicting winds of up to 40 knots and seas up to four metres.

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Larger boats could also do it tough in Storm Bay, close to Hobart and Brindabella skipper Jim Cooney said his crew were prepared.

“We have done most of the things we need to do to prepare for the change. We have shifted the sails to the right places,” Cooney said.

A fourth boat had retired by Saturday afternoon, NSW 12-metre Canute quitting with a rudder bearing problem.

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