Super-maxi Wild Oats takes lead in Sydney to Hobart
Eight-time line honours winner misses the start but takes a narrow lead with Hong Kong-based Scallywag in third position and conditions favourable for a speed record
Eight-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI overcame a botched start to take a narrow lead in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race Monday as the fleet of 88 boats rushed down Australia’s east coast at record-breaking speed.
Supermaxi Perpetual Loyal was first through Sydney Heads for the second straight year after race favourite Wild Oats missed the start and was forced to pick its way through a fleet of smaller yachts.
But later on Monday, as the fleet sped down the coast of New South Wales state at a pace which made a race record a possibility, the 100 foot Wild Oats was three kilometres ahead of Perpetual Loyal.
Hong Kong businessman Lee Seng-huang’s entrant, Scallywag was in third place a further three kilometres behind.
Perpetual Loyal made the best of one of the most eventful starts in race history to lead the fleet out of Sydney Harbour at the start of the 628 nautical mile passage to Hobart on the island state of Tasmania.
Forecasts of premium sailing conditions have led to predictions the 72nd edition of the classic ocean race will be won in race record time.
