All hands to the liferaft for Wild Oats XI Sydney Hobart race crew

5:48 AM Mon 14 Dec 2009 GMT

'Wild Oats X1 crew in the pool as part of their annual Sea Safety Day prior to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009' Andrea Francolini &copy

It was all hands to the liferaft for the crew of Bob Oatley's supermaxi yacht, Wild Oats XI, today when they participated in a simulated 'abandon ship' emergency exercise in preparation for the Rolex Sydney Hobart race, starting on Boxing Day.

The crew of the 30.48m long race record holder took part in the virtual emergency procedure as a vital part of their preparation for the 628 nautical mile classic. A liferaft was deployed during the exercise.

'Safety is paramount for us,' said a sodden Wild Oats XI skipper, Mark Richards, when he clambered from the pool at Drummoyne Swim Centre in Sydney, where the training was carried out under the watchful eye of ocean racing safety instructor, Rob Whittaker. 'It's as important as us having the yacht in perfect racing trim for the Hobart. We must be prepared for every eventuality.'

Up she comes: Navigator Adrienne Cahalan is lifted into the liferaft - Wild Oats X1 crew in the pool as part of their annual Sea Safety Day prior to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009 - Andrea Francolini &copy

The nucleus of the 18 crew who will race Wild Oats XI to Hobart, including navigator Adrienne Cahalan and reserve helmsman Iain Murray, donned full sailing gear and life jackets so the in-water experience could be as authentic as possible. They went through a procedure where they had to deal with an injured crewmember while in the water as well as practising how to right a capsized liferaft and board it once it was upright.

When the exercise was complete the crew returned to Wild Oats XI at Woolwich Dock then spent the remainder of the day refining light weather sailing techniques using the new mainsail - which is 24 square metres larger than its predecessor - and new headsail that have been made especially for the Hobart race.

Tomorrow Wild Oats XI will line up alongside many of its Hobart race line honours rivals when she competes in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour.

Helping hand: Reserve helmsman Iain Murray helps a crewmate into the liferaft - Wild Oats X1 crew in the pool as part of their annual Sea Safety Day prior to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009 - Andrea Francolini &copy

Wild Oats X1 crew in the pool as part of their annual Sea Safety Day prior to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009 - Andrea Francolini &copy

Wild Oats X1 crew in the pool as part of their annual Sea Safety Day prior to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009 - Andrea Francolini &copy

Easy does it. Navigator Adrienne Cahalan is treated as an injured crewmember - Wild Oats X1 crew in the pool as part of their annual Sea Safety Day prior to the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009 - Andrea Francolini &copy