Yachting: Wild Oats XI captures record seventh title

Wild Oats XI, right, leads out of Sydney Harbour with Beau Geste trailing. Photo / AP

Wild Oats XI last night claimed a record-equalling seventh Sydney to Hobart line honours victory after leaving rivals in its wake down the Tasmanian coast.

Bob Oatley's super-maxi reached the finish line in an unofficial time of two days, six hours, seven minutes, 27 seconds, well short of the race record it set last year.

Anthony Bell's Perpetual LOYAL remained 33 nautical miles from home and veteran Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin in third a further 17 miles back with both expected to finish late last night.

Wild Oats clocked speeds of 28 knots as it rocketed down the Tasmanian coast in favourable winds. Erasing a deficit of 10nm, it opened a gap of nearly 60nm on LOYAL.

Skippered by Mark Richards, it slowed to less than 12 knots as it turned into the River Derwent.

Thousands on the waterfront for the island capital's summer festivals cheered on the crew of 20, who have a combined 250 Sydney to Hobart races between them. Wild Oats' win equals the seven line honours wins by Morna/Kurrewa IV in the 1940-50s.

Volvo 70 Black Jack (86nm behind) was running fourth last night, Hong Kong's Beau Geste (91nm) fifth and NZ's Giacomo (93nm) sixth. NSW boat Brannew had retaken the overall lead on handicap but changing weather conditions were expected to shake up the standings.

Perpetual LOYAL has among its crew London Olympics laser gold medallist Tom Slingsby, the Australian who was strategist on the winning Oracle Team USA boat at this year's America's Cup. Also on board is Jessica Watson, the Australian who four years ago was the youngest person to sail around the world solo, as a 16-year-old.

Wild Oats XI is owned by wine mogul Oatley, who is heading the Australian challenge for the next America's Cup and is the Challenger of Record through the Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

Overall victory remained wide open in radically changing weather conditions.

The Tattersall's Cup, decided by handicap, will be decided betwen 16 yachts within six hours of each other, with bad weather set to shake things up and the back of the fleet bracing for forecast gale force winds.

- AAP