Wild Oats breaks Sydney-Hobart race record

Wild Oats XI was the first yacht out of Sydney on Boxing Day. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

HOBART - Australian super maxi Wild Oats XI has taken line honours in the 61st Sydney to Hobart yacht race, cutting just over an hour off the record time set in 1999.

The yacht sealed its record-breaking victory at 10am (NZ time), finishing the gruelling race in an unofficial time of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes.

New Zealander Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo finished one hour and 16 minutes behind the winner.

The win breaks Nokia's 1999 record of one day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and two seconds by about 68 minutes.

Wild Oats survived a minor scare just six miles from race finish when its mainsail appeared to be torn and had to be replaced by frantic crew members with a number one sail.

The yacht only lost a small amount of time and recovered to smash the previous record.

It also leaves Wild Oats with a chance to become the sixth yacht in Sydney to Hobart history to claim both line honours and an overall handicap win.

Wild Oats staked her claim from the starter's gun. She was the first yacht to pass Sydney Heads on Boxing Day and maintained a steady 15 nautical mile lead on Alfa Romeo despite an initial tussle.

Wild Oats needed to average speeds of 15 knots to beat Nokia's record, but consistently raced up to 19.

The Sydney to Hobart debutante was one of two super maxis, including Alfa Romeo, designed by US naval architects Reichel Pugh and built in Sydney by John McConaghy.

Owned by billionaire winemaker and Whitsundays resort owner Bob Oatley, Wild Oats was not launched until late November but her experienced crew was well versed in using a canting keel to its full advantage.

The crew included international navigator Adrienne Cahalan, who competed in the race between legs of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world, and world match racing champion Mark Richards.

Wild Oats finished 428 nautical miles ahead of Gillawa, which is currently in last place and expected to cross the finish line in the new year.

So far only one boat has retired from the race's 85 starters.

German yacht Conergy turned back to Sydney yesterday morning with rudder and radio damage.

- AAP