Sydney Hobart - Wild Oats chasing hard

6:31 AM Sat 26 Dec 2009 GMT

'Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2009, Sydney 26/12/09

WILD OATS XI' Andrea Francolini &copy

'The anticipated bow-on-bow battle between Bob Oatley's Sydney Hobart race record holder, Wild Oats XI, and kiwi Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo was happening late today - and not disappointing either crew.'

The two yachts were pushing to the east as fast as they could in the hope they would pick up a more favourable easterly slant in the wind before tacking and heading south.

This early tactical manoeuvre meant that the British entry, ICAP Leopard, appeared as the leader on the race tracking system because owner Mike Slade had chosen to sail a course angled more to the south, and this gave his yacht a more southerly latitude when its position was registered by satellite.

'We're hoping our move will get us to the new breeze much sooner than Leopard,' said Wild Oats XI co-navigator, Ian 'Fresh' Burns. 'If that does eventuate then we should regain everything we and Alfa Romeo appear to have lost to the Brits, and subsequently take the lead. It's all about tactics.'

After leading the 100 yacht fleet away from the start line and towards the entrance to Sydney Harbour, Wild Oats XI relinquished her advantage when a breakdown in communications between the afterguard and the foredeck saw the spinnaker lowered too early. Wild Oats XI immediately lost speed and allowed their kiwi arch rivals to take the bragging rights that came with being first yacht to exit the harbour.

Wild Oats XI started the race with 17 crew, instead of the planned 18, when New Zealand America's Cup sailor Matthew Mason was forced to pull out at the last minute due to an unexpected America's Cup commitment.

Wild Oats XI skipper, Mark Richards, decided on going without a replacement for Mason after assessing the weather forecast and discussing the situation with Bob Oatley and key members of his crew.

by Rob Mundle

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