The 80th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has seen its first supermaxi withdrawal, with the 100-foot contender Wild Thing 100 forced to retire on the opening night of the classic bluewater event.
Supermaxi Succumbs to Early Damage
All crew members aboard Wild Thing 100 were reported safe after the yacht sustained significant rigging damage east-north-east of Tuross Head on the New South Wales South Coast. The decision was made to turn back, and the vessel began its journey to Sydney around 4am on December 27.
This marks a major disappointment for veteran skipper Grant Wharington, who had overseen substantial upgrades to the boat this year, including the installation of a taller mast in May. This new rig was intended to capitalise on forecast lighter winds later in the race towards Hobart.
Race Leaders Battle On Despite Issues
At the front of the fleet, the battle for line honours continues between the overnight leader, Master Lock Comanche, and the reigning champion, LawConnect. As of 6:15am, the two heavyweights were separated by only about a mile and a half.
LawConnect's campaign hit a snag overnight with a broken mainsheet and halyard, but the crew managed repairs to stay in the hunt. "We had a few things slow us down and Comanche's obviously done quite well," said LawConnect skipper Christian Beck. "It's mildly disappointing for us, but you win some, lose some. Everything's good, we're still in the hunt."
The chasing pack is led by the American 88-footer Lucky and the supermaxi SHK Scallywag, with the latter roughly five miles behind LawConnect.
Fleet Weathers Tough but Manageable Conditions
The fleet faced an upwind slog in winds topping 25 knots overnight, accompanied by a solid swell. While challenging, conditions were notably less treacherous than the violent storms of last year's race, which tragically claimed two lives.
Despite crews bracing for rough weather, Wild Thing was the only retirement overnight by 5am. However, the fleet later saw further withdrawals, including Awen with a broken forestay and Trouble & Strife due to engine issues after the 6:30am starting gun on December 26.
Several other yachts had already pulled out on Boxing Day afternoon, including Hutchies Yeah Baby (damaged headstay foil), White Noise (rigging issues), and the two-handed Inukshuk (rudder problem). Silver Fern continued racing after making temporary repairs, while Yendys scratched before the start.
As of 6:30am on December 27, the continuing fleet stood at 122 yachts. The race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set by Comanche in 2017, is not expected to be broken this year.
