Sailing-Wild Oats sets race record in Sydney-Hobart victory

ByReuters

Published 27/12/2017 at 11:09 GMT

MELBOURNE, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Australian super-maxi Wild Oats XI smashed the race record as they won their ninth Sydney to Hobart bluewater classic on Wednesday but face the possibility of a protest from second-placed LDV Comanche for a near-collision just after the start.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

Wild Oats, helmed by Mark Richards, crossed the line in the River Derwent at 9:48 pm (1048 GMT) after steaming down the eastern coast of Australia at an average of around 20 knots before being becalmed in the final few miles.

They finished in one day, eight hours, 48 minutes and 50 seconds, smashing the 1:13:31.20 record set by Perpetual Loyal, which has been renamed InfoTrack, last year.

Wild Oats, however, could face a protest from the Jimmy Spitthill-helmed Comanche after the pair narrowly avoided a collision about 15 minutes into the race on Tuesday. (Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

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