Race loses supermaxi

RECORD-BREAKING supermaxi Wild Oats XI will not race in this year’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Champion skipper Mark Richards said he was “devastated” not to race but that the decision was made out of respect to those impacted by coronavirus.

Despite a global pandemic and domestic recession, 103 yachts had signed on for this year’s race when entries closed on Thursday night.

THE Sydney to Hobart yacht race has lost its most glamorous boat with the bombshell news that record-breaking supermaxi Wild Oats XI will not race this year out of respect for the millions of Australians impacted by the coronavirus.

Champion skipper Mark Richards was “devastated” when he dropped the bombshell yesterday, saying his nine-time line honours winner and three-time race record breaker would not take part in the 76th edition of the blue water classic. Despite a global pandemic and domestic recession, 103 yachts had signed on for this year’s race when entries closed on Thursday night.

By Friday that number had dropped to 100 yachts, and Wild Oats was a notable absence. There is still an opportunity for late entries.

Reigning champion Comanche was sold to the Russians after winning last year’s 75th anniversary event and now lives in the Northern Hemisphere.

International supermaxis Scallywag (Hong Kong) and Black Jack (Hong Kong) can’t race, paving the way for Aussie 100-footer InfoTrack to start line honours favourite.

Wild Oats was built by the late Robert Oatley in 2005, and has raced every year since.

The Oatley family, of Queensland, has numerous financial interests including a wine business and Hamilton Island Resort and still own the beautiful, streamlined supermaxi.

“It has been a full-on year for the Oatley family, with business and laying people off, so we don’t believe it is appropriate to race the yacht with all of that stuff going on,” Richards said.

“We will be back next year, but out of sheer respect to the business and the community, it has been a really hard year and they don’t think it’s the right look.

“It’s exactly what Bob Oatley would have done if he was around.

“We are all devastated but it is the right thing to do.

“We are all very close, and we all love the race, but we are all committed to showing our respect to

the workforce and for all the bad stuff that has been going on for everyone out there.”

The federal government’s border restrictions mean international yachts and crews will not be able to compete, leaving Sydney-based 100-footer InfoTrack, last year’s runner-up, as the sole supermaxi and likely winner.

“Half of our crew is international, so they can’t even get here,” Richards said.

The Sydney-Hobart starts on Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Boxing Day.