Outimage Publications - Wild Oats XI takes record fourth consecutive line honours win

The outimage dot net ocean yacht racing banner is an image of Roger Sturgeon's Transpac 65 Rosbud from the United States, working up Hobart's Derwent River into the late afternoon to take out an overall win of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The photograph was taken by Peter Andrews.

Wild Oats XI takes record fourth consecutive line honours win

Rolex Sydney Hobart - News Update
09:45 AEDT December 28, 2008

Article By the Rolex Sydney Hobart Media Team

December 28, 2008.

Wild Oats XI has lived up to its pre-race expectations and at 09:34 this morning, the boat sailed into the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race history books. For this race, Wild Oats XI’s elapsed time was 1 day, 20 hours, 34 minutes and 14 seconds.

Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, working up Hobart's Derwent River to take out Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

In 15 knots of north nor’east breeze and with a sizeable spectator fleet escort, the mighty Sydney-based 30m maxi owned by Bob Oatley and skippered by Mark Richards achieved something no other boat has in the race’s 64 year history - four consecutive line honours wins in the 628 nautical mile ocean classic.

Sail changes on Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, with Hobart's Mt Wellington in the background. Wild Oats XI is seen here working up Hobart's Derwent River to take out Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Wild Oats XI overcame a number of setbacks including a torn spinnaker soon after the 1pm start on Sydney Harbour on Friday, a too-close encounter with a shark last night that could have caused serious damage to their rudders and yesterday’s valiant fight back by Skandia to lead the high tech Wild Oats XI for most of the day.

Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, working up Hobart's Derwent River to take out Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

The record for the most line honours wins in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is held by Morna / Kurrewa IV, the same boat which sailed to seven line honours victories under two different owners and two different names, the last time in 1960 as Kurrewa IV.

Last year, Wild Oats XI equalled Morna’s record three-in-a-row, set in the 1940s and this year, she has taken her own slice of history with her fourth back to back win.

Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, crossing the Hobart finishing line to take out Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Wild Oats XI is also the current record holder with a time of 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes 10 seconds set in 2005 when she took her first line honours win having only been on the water a matter of weeks.

Wild Oats XI’s finish times:

2005 - 1:18:40:10 - (the race record)
2006 - 2:08:52:33
2007 - 1:21:24:32
2008 - 1:20:34:14

There have been no further retirements with 96 still racing south and Skandia the next due to finish, at 10:34 AEDT.

Official race website: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

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