KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Maximus, one of the favourites for line honours in this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race, has pulled out because of keel damage.
Owner and skipper Bill Buckley yesterday said he was gutted at being forced out of the blue water classic because of damage to the boat's keel, done at the weekend during its delivery to Sydney.
The 30m maxi arrived in Sydney early yesterday and was lifted at Woolwich Dock.
An examination by Buckley, who is an engineer, revealed that the damage to the keel could not be repaired before the race start, on December 26.
He said that before the examination, he had been hopeful the boat could be repaired in time.
Maximus was forced out of last year's race with mast damage, but Buckley hopes to have it back for the event next year.
- AAP
