Wild Oats XI nearing finish but under jib only

• NEWS
• 28 Dec, 2005 07:38:00 AM

Wild Oats XI nearing finish but under jib only

Bob Oatley's 30m maxi yacht Wild Oats XI is set to smash the race record for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race despite being forced to drop her mainsail in the Derwent River.

Bob Oatley's 30m maxi yacht Wild Oats XI is set to smash the race record for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race despite being forced to drop her mainsail in the Derwent River.

CYCA Past Commodore Martin James reported at 07.30 reported from the river that Wild Oats XI had passed the John Garrow Light sailing under a single headsail alone.

"The crew are all on the rail and she is still doing 10 knots - even without her mainsail," James said.

Apparently the top batten broke soon after Wild Oats XI entered the river after a fast overnight sail down the Tasmanian East Coast and across Storm Bay.

Alfa Romeo has closed the gap but at this stage Wild Oats XI is certain to breakj Nokia's 1999 race record of 1 day 19 hours 48 minutes and 02 seconds.