Bob Oatley’s thoughts about going for a fifth consecutive line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart race with his supermaxi Wild Oats XI have already been ignited after the yacht sailed back into Sydney Harbour from Hobart early today in a time that was well inside the course record for the race south.
With only its smallest jib and the cruising mainsail set, Wild Oats XI rode a strong south westerly wind away from Hobart on Thursday and arrived back in Sydney Harbour just 1 day 16 hours later. The passage was more than two hours faster than the record time the yacht posted for the 628 nautical mile Hobart race in 2005.
Making the passage even more remarkable was the fact that Wild Oats XI had only two regular crew on board; delivery skipper Troy Tindill, and Josh Whittaker. The 11 others were sailing friends who were there to help get the big boat back home from Hobart.
“The time they took to get home shows the course record is very much there for the taking,” said an elated Bob Oatley today. “I’m not saying we deserved the record in the recent race, but it does show what the yacht might do if we decide to go again this year.”
Troy Tindill said the top speed Wild Oats XI achieved was 35 knots while she was scorching across Bass Strait late yesterday.
“Everything just went our way with the weather,” Tindill said. “We didn’t push the boat hard – it was safety first all the way because it was a delivery voyage. We had the tiny Number Six sized jib set from the inner forestay as well as the delivery mainsail, which goes only three-quarters of the way up the mast. It was a great rig and a really enjoyable ride for everyone.”
Wild Oats XI entered the history books last week when she became the first yacht in the 64-year history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart race to be first to finish on four consecutive occasions. In the first year she raced south she established the current course record – 1 day, 18 hours, 40 mins, 10 secs.
Bob Oatley said after the yacht arrived at the finish in Hobart that he was undecided when it came to going for a fifth straight line honours. A final decision is not expected until later this year.
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