Supermaxi Comanche extended its lead over fellow American Rambler in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race yesterday, despite both boats being damaged by brutal conditions, which saw many of the fleet retire.
A savage southerly blasted the boats off the New South Wales coast on the first night at sea on Saturday, wiping more than one-quarter of entries out of the epic 628-nautical mile (1,163km) race along Australia’s east coast.
Among the casualties were two strong contenders for line honors — eight-time fastest finisher Wild Oats XI, forced back to Sydney after her mainsail ripped, and supermaxi Perpetual Loyal with rudder damage. With about 100 nautical miles still to go early yesterday, Comanche was about 14 nautical miles ahead of 88-footer Rambler with Ragamuffin 100 and the Giovanni Soldini-skippered Maserati chasing them.
Comanche led in the early stages of the race, but hit an unidentified submerged object during fierce conditions on Saturday night, which broke one of the 100-footer’s twin rudders and a daggerboard.
Skipper Ken Read had initially considered retiring, but “decided to punch on through,” with running repairs being made to the boat.
“I do not care if we limp over the line. We are going to finish this damned race,” Read said.
Comanche finished runner-up for line honors to Wild Oats XI in its first Sydney to Hobart last year and has been a hot favorite after setting a new 24-hour monohull record of 618.01 nautical miles in July.
Her biggest competition for line honors is now coming from fellow American Rambler, which also hit something in the water on Saturday, sustaining similar damage.
“We have no idea what we hit, we could not see it,” yacht navigator Andrew Cape said. “It might have been marine life or flotsam, but it was a solid hit. It shook the boat.”
Of the 108 boats that started the race in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, 32 have been forced out, including some with shredded sails, hull and steering damage, and one with a broken mast.
Sailors returning to Sydney on Sunday spoke of the terrifying conditions, with winds reaching up to 40 knots (74kph).
Julia Cooney, onboard the Brindabella, told the Australian newspaper that “nothing can prepare you for something like that.”
“It was like hitting a wall of water; hitting you in the face, sea water, rain water — you could not tell. It was pitch black and the boat was crashing through the waves at 11 knots,” she added.
The leading boats are expected to see lighter conditions as they continue to Hobart, but were expected to complete the journey late yesterday.
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