Tight battle 'all the way to finish line' for Sydney-Hobart glory
SYDNEY: Four supermaxis were Thursday neck-and-neck in a fierce battle to cross the finish line first in what organisers said was the closest contest in the history of the Sydney to Hobart race.
Just five nautical miles (nine kilometres) were separating the mega-yachts as they raced down Australia's east coast, with defending line honours champion Comanche slightly ahead of Black Jack, Wild Oats XI and Infotrack.
The lead had been switching regularly between 100-footer Comanche and fierce rival Wild Oats XI since a fleet of yachts departed a sunny Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day on Wednesday at the start of the 628-nautical mile (1,163-kilometre) race.
"It is by far the closest race ever," skipper Mark Richards of eight-time line honours Wild Oats XI said from the boat Thursday. His yacht was first to Hobart in 2017 but was stripped of the win after being handed a one-hour penalty over a near-collision.
"I think it will go all the way to the finish line."
The yachts were off the record pace of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds set by Comanche last year, amid lighter winds.
The breeze in the notoriously wild Bass Strait between Tasmania and the Australian mainland varied on Thursday, with the vessels supported by 1525 knot north-easterly winds that weakened at times to six knots.
"It's not usual to have four quite different boats all in the same patch of water," said Black Jack navigator Tom Addis from his yacht.
"These boats are all very different. They all have different strengths and weaknesses. This is the most interesting race in the 100 footers... There's a good chance that we're all going to be together (near the finish)."