Up Wild Oats XI comes for a final rub and polish before Sydney to Hobart start

Sydneysiders got to see the recently modified hull of Sydney to Hobart line honours favourite and eight times winner Wild Oats XI in its full racing configuration on Tuesday when it  was lifted from the water at Woolwich Dock for a final rub and polish for this year's 628 nautical mile race south that starts Saturday.

The Wild Oats XI of today is vastly different to the model that was the first to reach Hobart last year.

It is still 100-foot long, but is faster than ever in the right conditions after undergoing a makeover that included cuts to the  stern and bow sections – the latter replaced with a longer section.

Wild Oats XI is lifted from the water at Woolwich Dock for the final check before the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

On Tuesday morning, the Bob Oatley-owned super maxi was given a final external check up by crew and skipper Mark Richards and will not be sailed again before the race.

Wild Oats is due to return to the water on Wednesday morning, after which a diver will give it one or two final rub downs from below before the Boxing Day start.

Every little detail can make a difference. Estimates are that one second saved per mile can convert to a 15 minute difference at the finish.

But the heavy rain and grey skies across the Sydney region on Tuesday didn't dampen the optimism of Richards and his crew. They are thrilled with how Wild Oats XI is looking and, more importantly, has fared fared on the water.

It won the Big Boat Challenge last Tuesday; and has impressed Richards – and anyone who has seen it on the water – in training and testing in varying race scenarios and with myriad sail combinations.

But the real test will be on the open ocean between Sydney and Hobart when it  comes up against its main challengers for line honours from the 109 strong fleet.

They are the three 100-footers – Comanche from the US that was second across the line to Wild Oats XI last year, Australian entries Perpetual Loyal and Ragamuffin – and the new American 88-footer Rambler.