Yachting: Two boats pull out of Sydney to Hobart

A second boat has retired from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The Sanyo Maris pulled out due to a broken gooseback and is heading back to Sydney.

The first boat to retire was Georgia, whose crew have now arrived in Batemans Bay on a police vessel after their yacht suffered rudder damage and began sinking. Cruising Yacht Club of Australia rear commodore Garry Linacre says one of the older Volvo 60 yachts came to the rescue.

Approaching the half way stage of the race, Skandia is proving to be a worthy match for three-time defending champion Wild Oats XI.

The 2003 line honours champion leads Wild Oats by just over three nautical miles. ASM Shockwave is a further 19 miles back.

New Zealand's only flagged entry Time Lord is towards the back of the fleet, more than 130 nautical miles behind the leaders.

- NEWSTALK ZB