Protest lodged against Wild Oats XI after Sydney to Hobart win

Hobart: Wild Oats XI's Sydney to Hobart line honours win is under a cloud, with the event's race committee advising the yacht may have breached regulations.

A protest has been lodged against the supermaxi after the race committee received a report from the owner of runner-up Black Jack that claimed Wild Oats XI's automatic identification system had not transmitted throughout the race.

Victory under a cloud: Wild Oats XI closes in on Hobart on Friday morning.Credit:Carlo Borlenghi

Richards described the dispute as a storm in a teacup and a spokesman for Wild Oats XI added: "There is no issue at all to answer for. The AIS [tracker] was turned on for the entire race. It was tested. There have been no problems with it whatsoever."

Third-placed Comanche skipper Jim Cooney said he was unfussed by the tracker dispute because each yacht’s position, speed and direction were available from other geolocation devices on each boat.

"I don’t feel disadvantaged or unfairly treated because the information about the yachts’ performance is fairly readily available," Cooney said earlier on Friday.

Wild Oats XI finished in 1 day, 19 hours, 7 minutes, 21 seconds, well behind last year’s record of 1 day, nine hours and 15 minutes set by Comanche when unusually strong winds propelled the fleet across Bass Strait and down the east coast of Tasmania.

But that did not dampen the victor’s spirits. Richards followed tradition, drinking champagne and taking a dip in the Derwent River at his crew’s behest.

But he also made the non-traditional choice to drink some of his champagne from a shoe.
Asked about plans for next year’s 75th Sydney to Hobart, Richards said: "Don’t rip up your tickets."

Nick Bonyhady and AAP

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