The iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race has delivered a classic supermaxi showdown, with Master Lock Comanche emerging in pole position after a tense, high-stakes battle down Tasmania's rugged east coast. The 100-foot yacht is now leading the charge for line honours in the gruelling 80th edition of the bluewater classic.
A Three-Way Supermaxi Dogfight
In a spectacular display of offshore sailing, Comanche has come out on top of a fierce "dogfight" with its two main rivals. After rounding Tasman Island first on Sunday afternoon, the Matt Allen and James Mayo-skippered vessel held a six-nautical-mile advantage over defending champion LawConnect. Hot on their heels in third was the Hong Kong-owned SHK Scallywag 100, chasing a maiden victory.
Footage captured the three giant yachts racing within sight of each other under blue skies, with American-skippered Lucky holding fourth place. The intense match-racing scenario has captivated followers. "We've had five boats essentially match-racing all the way down the course since pretty much Sydney Heads," said Cruising Yacht Club of Australia vice-commodore David Jacobs, calling the close contest "quite extraordinary."
A Bruising Race Takes Its Toll
While the leaders battle at the front, the extreme conditions have decimated the fleet behind them. A punishing and prolonged upwind slog has forced a staggering 33 yachts to retire from the original 128 starters. The list of casualties is long and varied, encompassing sea sickness, injuries, significant yacht damage, and even lost life rafts.
One poignant retirement was the 45-year-old yacht Titoki, helmed by ex-navy officer couple Frances Beaumont, 57, and Tim Binns, 63. They described being overwhelmed by a cascade of problems including rigging defects, water leaks, and a lithium power tool battery fire. After a heavy night offshore, the exhausted and wet pair were also suffering mild hypothermia. "The decision to retire was not easy," they said. "We are proud of what we achieved but gutted by our outcome."
Other high-profile retirements include handicap contender URM Group and the supermaxi Wild Thing 100.
Chasing Redemption and a Breakthrough
For Comanche, this race is a shot at redemption after being forced to retire last year with mainsail damage. Meanwhile, LawConnect's hopes for a historic third consecutive line honours win have been severely dented. The yacht suffered a broken outhaul and mainsheet on Saturday night, followed by damage to its mainsail, and is sailing without working wind instruments.
"We haven't given up, but to be honest our odds of winning aren't very high," admitted skipper Christian Beck. Crew member Tony Mutter described LawConnect as a "wounded animal" but vowed they were still in the fight.
For SHK Scallywag 100 and its experienced skipper David Witt, a win would be a monumental breakthrough in his 26th attempt at the race. Their social media team simply posted "game on" after two days of brutal sailing.
With conditions easing and winds shifting to provide a welcome push towards the finish in Hobart, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion. All eyes will be on the River Derwent, where in 2023 LawConnect beat Comanche in the second-closest finish in race history by a mere 51 seconds.
