All systems “GO” for super maxi Wild Oats XI in the Rolex Sydney Hobart

• NEWS
• 19 Dec, 2019 04:56:00 PM

All systems “GO” for super maxi Wild Oats XI in the Rolex Sydney Hobart

After five weeks of frenetic repair work, sometime around-the-clock, the super maxi yacht Wild Oats XI has been declared ready to race in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race on Boxing Day.

The declaration came from the skipper, Mark Richards, after the 30-metre long, silver-hulled racer completed a compulsory 24-hour qualification course off Sydney this week.

“We went into race mode for that trial and returned to our base more than pleased with what we had experienced,” Richards said. “We couldn’t fault a thing.”

Wild Oats XI’s race preparation problems started on the evening of November 8, while competing in the overnight Cabbage Tree Island race out of Sydney. The yacht was leading the fleet when the 45-metre high carbon fibre mast suddenly fractured and consequently caused a significant part of the deck structure to fail.

Quick action by the crew prevented additional damage and the yacht was able to reach safe haven in Newcastle.

In the ensuing five weeks a remarkable and well-orchestrated repair schedule that involved getting replacement parts from Europe, Asia and New Zealand, has led to the super maxi being declared race ready.

Owned by the Oatley family, Wild Oats XI is recognised as the most successful yacht in the 75-year history of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Since being launched in 2005 the much-modified super maxi has claimed line honours on nine times, won on corrected time twice, and set a race record time for the course on two occasions.

By Rob Mundle – Media Manager, Wild Oats XI