Yachting: Wild Oats XI close to Sydney to Hobart treble

Wild Oats XI. Photo / Rolex Yachting

Record-breaker Wild Oats XI looks all but assured of taking out an historic Sydney to Hobart treble.

The super-maxi looks likely to add an overall victory on handicap to line honours and a new race record.

Wild Oats sits atop the handicap standings, ahead of 2011 winner Loki and Black Jack.

But overnight challengers Jazz, Calm and Quest have failed to finish fast enough to claim the overall prize.

Oats would become the first boat to claim the treble since British boat Rani, but her "record" was set in the first race in 1945.

The super-maxi would be the first to claim two trebles, after breaking the record in 2005, as well as two line/handicap doubles.

Only five other boats have achieved the double.

Wild Oats was the last to do so with her 2005 effort.

-AAP