Team Wild Oats XI has been left "gobsmacked" by the hydraulics failure that forced the super maxi into a second-straight early retirement from the Sydney to Hobart, and opened the door for Perpetual Loyal or Giacomo to claim line honours and a possible race record.
Owner Sandy Oatley spoke briefly with the crew via satellite phone following the incident as the yacht turned around and headed for land, where it was due to dock in Eden at by 11pm on Tuesday.
More Sports HQ Videos
- Video duration
- 01:11
Wild Oats XI retires from Sydney to Hobart
Wild Oats XI retires from Sydney to Hobart
Perpetual Loyal hits the front of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after the race favourite was suddenly forced to pull out. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
Up Next
Manly claim controversial win
- Video duration
- 01:29
- Video duration
- 01:29
Manly claim controversial win
Manly claim controversial win
A refereeing blunder saw Manly escape with a four point win in wet conditions against the Knights.
Up Next
Chiefs cause upset over Hurricanes
- Video duration
- 01:28
- Video duration
- 01:28
Chiefs cause upset over Hurricanes
Chiefs cause upset over Hurricanes
The Chiefs put in an impressive performance to take the points away from the Hurricanes.
Up Next
Uate's lucky try
- Video duration
- 00:44
- Video duration
- 00:44
Uate's lucky try
Uate's lucky try
Manly winger Akuila Uate got away with a try that wouldn't have been rewarded had the referees gone to the bunker.
Up Next
'I'm a legend': Usain Bolt's last home race
- Video duration
- 00:58
- Video duration
- 00:58
'I'm a legend': Usain Bolt's last home ...
'I'm a legend': Usain Bolt's last home race
The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, tells reporters he believes he's an athletics legend as he prepares for his final race on home soil this weekend.
Up Next
Ricciardo eyes third successive podium
- Video duration
- 00:20
- Video duration
- 00:20
Ricciardo eyes third successive podium
Ricciardo eyes third successive podium
Daniel Ricciardo is in hot form heading into the the Montreal Grand Prix.
Up Next
Champions Trophy 2017: Sri Lanka upset India
- Video duration
- 00:57
- Video duration
- 00:57
Champions Trophy 2017: Sri Lanka upset ...
Champions Trophy 2017: Sri Lanka upset India
India captain Virat Kohli says his team are not invincible after an unexpected loss to Sri Lanka at The Oval.
Up Next
Rogic launches missile
- Video duration
- 00:55
- Video duration
- 00:55
Rogic launches missile
Rogic launches missile
Tom Rogic hit an incredible long-range goal that sealed the Socceroos' 3-2 World Cup qualifier win over Saudi Arabia.
Wild Oats XI retires from Sydney to Hobart
Perpetual Loyal hits the front of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after the race favourite was suddenly forced to pull out. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
Oatley chartered a bus from Sydney to Eden late on Tuesday to pick up the crew, and plans to discuss the boat's latest failure with skipper Mark Richards and his fellow sailors in the coming days.
The yacht was forced to retire last year after suffering a torn mainsail on the first night of the race.
Related Content
"We've got to sit back and assess what went wrong and make sure it doesn't happen again," Oatley said.
"I've spoken to the hydraulic people this morning to get their assessment and they're absolutely gobsmacked that there's a failure.
"We just need to talk to Mark Richards and understand fully what happened.
"Last year we tore the mainsail and we've done a lot of preparation and training in that regard and the boys were very happy with that. This hydraulic failure has come out of left field, we don't really know what's happened yet.
"It's not until they look at it, we look at it, sit down in the cool of day to work out what actually went wrong."
The eight-time line honours winner led throughout the first night having recovered from a poor start, and looked on track to smash the race record it set in 2012 before disaster struck in the middle of Bass Strait at about 8am on Tuesday.
A broken trunnion pin affected the hydraulics system attached to the canting keel, which forced the crew to lock the keel in the centre and motor back to Eden into a gusty north-easterly wind and against the current.
Perpetual Loyal was seven nautical miles behind Wild Oats XI and radioed the race leader when they noticed Richards' yacht was in trouble.
Navigator Tom Addis said Perpetual Loyal's crew initially feared Wild Oats XI had lost a man overboard before being informed of the hydraulics issue.
For Oatley, a ninth line-honours win in the race has to wait at least another 12 months.
"That's life unfortunately, that's Murphy's Law," Oatley said.
"It's one of those things, it's very frustrating, there's been a lot of preparation for the boat and the crew training, but Mother Nature, someone else is controlling all the little bits and pieces.
"I'm sure that Mark and the team would be itching to get back there next year to finish what they started last year and to finish what they started this year.
"Hopefully next year you can say third time lucky when we get there."
As Richards steered the yacht back to Eden, Perpetual Loyal remained on track to break the race record, leading from the impressive Volvo 70 Giacomo.
The yacht was estimated to arrived at Tasman Island around 11pm Tuesday before turning west and heading across Storm Bay and up the Derwent River for the final stretch.
"Yachting is a sport where nothing matters until you cross the line," Addis said.
"There's no such thing as a leader halfway through the race, it only matters when you cross the line, so it's absolutely just about trying to get there.
"We've got the last 40 miles in a coastal bay where the breeze isn't the most reliable, we've just got to deal with what we're given at that time of night."
As of Tuesday evening, Wild Oats XI was one of two retirements on the second day of the Sydney to Hobart, with KOA forced out late on with a broken starter motor.
0 comments
New User? Sign up