Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards, left, with Perpetual skip Anthony Bell. Picture: Mark Evans Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
THEY may have been down for a while but Wild Oats XI has proved beyond doubt she is not out of the race for Sydney to Hobart glory after claiming a race record in a major lead-up event.
Skipper Mark Richards said Wild Oats performed without incident as she took the fastest time honours in the Port Hacking to Bird Island race just two days after having her damaged mast put back into the 100-footer.
While playing catch-up in terms of on water time, Richards said the win was a confidence booster for the crew was left high and dry for a fortnight while repairs were made to the new mast which fractured on one of its first Sydney to Hobart training sails.
"It's all good, all good,'' Richards said after completing the race and then a 24-hour qualifier for the Sydney to Hobart yesterday.
"This was a real confidence thing for us and we had a great time out there.''
Wild Oats is one of five 100-footers in the 69th Rolex Sydney to Hobart with one of her rivals, the Grant Wharington skippered Wild Thing, yesterday claiming the handicap honours in the newly established Port Hacking to Bird island race.
Wild Oats covered the 118 nautical mile race in eight hours 51mins 41 secs to finish almost an hour ahead of Wharington's team over the line.
"We've still got a few bits and pieces to do, a tweaking her and there," Richards said.
"We still have our other mast in great condition - so we've got time to decide between now and Boxing Day if we want to change it."
The next outing for Wild Oats, Wild Thing and fellow supermaxi Perpetual Loyal is in Tuesday's SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour.
This is the only time the headliners in the Sydney to Hobart will race on the harbour before the 1pm start of the race on Boxing Day.
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