- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Twelve months after being forced into some last-minute preparations in the Sydney to Hobart race, Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards will be enjoying a more relaxed Christmas Day this year.
Australia’s yachting sweetheart broke her boom in the lead up to last year’s showdown, leaving Richards and his crew frantically working on the festive holiday to get the 100-footer ready in time for the race.
“Last year we had a few issues with a few bits and pieces which weren’t prepared until Christmas Day,” Richards recalled.
“So we were out there checking a few things on Christmas Day.”
The remodelled supermaxi, who has since undergone a $2 million nip and tuck, has encountered no such problems in this year’s build-up.
She even blitzed her opposition in the Big Boat challenge a fortnight ago, showing off some serious speed to win by almost four minutes from American raider Rambler 88.
However Richards was unsure if the smooth lead-in is a good omen for the 11-year-old.
“It’s a bit more relaxed this year. Whether it’s a good sign or a bad sign, I’m not quite sure. But we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The line honours favourite is heavily backed to be first past the post in Hobart for what would be an unprecedented ninth time.
The skipper of fellow Australian superpower, Ragamuffin 100, described the Wild Oats XI crew as the “best off-shore racing team we’ve seen in decades”.
The only other yacht to enjoy such dominance in the annual dash was Morna, who won three straight races between 1946-48 and later returned as Kurrewa IV to take four more between 1954-60.
By comparison, only two other boats have claimed line honours since Wild Oats XI won her first title in 2005.
“What `Richo’ and his team have done in this sport, I don’t think matches in any other sport,” David Witt said.
“Eight wins in a major off-shore race, I don’t know how you compare that to a soccer team or anything.
“It’s a little bit underestimated actually what they’ve managed to do in quite a competitive sport.”
Comanche, another American challenger, and Perpetual Loyal are the other two contenders who will attempt to crash Wild Oats XI’s party when the race begins at 1pm on Boxing Day.