Comanche protest over Wild opening
AUSTRALIAN supermaxi LDV Comanche has lodged a formal protest against fellow line honours favourite Wild Oats XI after a near-miss between the yachts soon after the start of the 73rd Sydney to Hobart.
Comanche, which hoisted its protest flag after the incident, last night informed race officials it would pursue a protest over what is believed to be a port/starboard right of way incident within an hour of the start of the race on Sydney Harbour yesterday.
It is understood the Wild Oats crew, who have indicated that they do not believe they have infringed any rule, could suffer a time penalty if found guilty.
Comanche has six hours to file a protest after her arrival in Hobart which will be heard by an international jury.
“We didn’t think there was an infraction. We discussed the 720-degree penalty and decided we didn’t need to under the circumstances,” said Wild Oats XI navigator Ian Burns late yesterday.
A fast reaction from America’s Cup winning skipper James Spithill helped prevent a potential race-ending collision after some perilously close combat with Wild Oats XI in the opening hour of the Sydney to Hobart.
The Mark Richard’s skippered Wild Oats XI appeared to miss LDV Comanche by the closest of margins as the two supermaxis crossed paths in some extremely close and feisty combat at sea.
Members of the LDV Comanche crew remonstrated with Wild Oats XI after close call. Had they hit, it could have been game over for one, or both, of the Sydney to Hobart favourites.
The goal of most skippers is to avoid any close contact for the entire race but someone evidently forgot to tell two of the favourites.
Over the years numerous yachts have had their race ended in Sydney Harbour by accidents and collisions.
Yesterday’s start was mostly uneventful with the close calls coming after the fleet cleared a chaotic Sydney Harbour off three separate start lines.
With thousands watching on from the foreshore and all manners of craft – kayaks, skiffs, pleasure boats and yachts – the 102-string fleet was sent on its way by a replica canon at 1pm by a gentle easterly. The menacing black-hulled LDV Comanche
was quick off the mark before Mark Bradford and his team on Black Jack claimed the honour of being the first yacht to sail through the heads and out to sea.
Last night, Comanche had made the most of the increasing winds to overhaul the early race leader Black Jack
and her new nemesis Wild Oats XI.
While the fleet started the race under record pace there is still potential for a new mark to be set by the supermaxis in the 628 nautical mile race.