Yachting: Wild Thing withdraws from Sydney to Hobart race

Supermaxi yacht Wild Thing became the third and highest profile casualty of the Sydney to Hobart race fleet on Tuesday.

The 2003 line honours winner withdrew from the race just before midday AEDT with sail damage.

Wild Thing was south of Green Cape and running third behind leader Wild Oats XI and another supermaxi Investec LOYAL when skipper Grant Wharington made the decision to pull out.

It continued the supermaxi Wild Thing's turbulent history in the race, having capsized in 2004 and withdrawn shortly after starting in 2009.

Wild Thing struck a media boat in Sydney Harbour last year, but still finished fifth across the line.

Wharington had taken a lot of weight out of the boat for this year's race and thought it was due for a change of fortune after the dramas in recent years.

Apart from taking line honours in 2003, Wild Thing finished third in 2005 and 06 and second in 2008.

Earlier, Celestial (broken gooseneck) and Accenture Yeah Baby (gear failure) were forced out of the race by gear problems.

The fleet has now been reduced to 86 boats.

-AAP