Wild Oats XI

Returning for the sixth year in a row, with skipper Mark Richards at the helm, Wild Oats XI is hungry for her fifth line honours win, after finishing second to Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo in last year’s race. Wild Oats XI currently holds the record for the most consecutive line honours wins – four - she surpassed Morna’s record of three in a row achieved in the 1946-1948 races when she won in 2008.

In her Rolex Sydney Hobart debut in 2005 this maxi with canting ballast twin foil (CBTF) took line honours in record time and won the Tattersall’s Cup – the only boat to take the trifecta since Rani in the first race in 1945.

In 2009, Wild Oats XI underwent extensive modifications to increase her overall length to 100ft, in accordance with the rule changes to extend the maximum length overall of yachts from 98ft to 100ft.  Earlier this year, Wild Oats XI made the rapid turn-around from Hobart to make the start line for the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, where she took line honours. She then went on to take line honours in a tough Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race and the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race – missing the race record by only a couple of hours.

Interviews with the crew of Wild Oats XI:

Mark Richards - 29 December 2010 

Adrienne Cahalan - 28 December 2010 

Mark Richards and Bob Oatley - 28 December 2010   

Ian Burns - 27 December 2010  

Ian Burns, Co-Navigator - 24 December 2010

Mark Richards, Skipper - 24 December 2010

Mark Richards, Skipper - Press Conference - 24 December 2010

Ian Burns, Co-Navigator - 23 December 2010

Protest decision - Race Committee -v- Wild Oats XI

Competitor Details