A day on the harbour

You know that the Rolex Sydney Hobart is just around the corner when the big boats take to Sydney Harbour for the annual SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, and this year there was action aplenty out on the spectacular harbour. But two very special guests stole much of the limelight, with Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark taking part in the event on board champion supermaxi Wild Oats XI.

An accomplished yachtsman in his own right, who took part in this year’s Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary took turns at the helm under the watchful eye of Wild Oats XI skipper, Mark Richards.

Run each year at this time to raise money for the Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) trusts, the Big Boat Challenge is also a chance for the Sydney Hobart contenders to stretch their legs on the harbour ahead of the Boxing Day start of the great race.

This year four yachts took part in the event, with Wild Oats X joining the accomplished Wild Oats XI along with Black Jack and Beau Geste, but it was Black Jack that made the biggest impression, beating highly fancied Wild Oats XI but 43 seconds to claim a surprise line honours for the day.

The smaller Wild Oats X was fourth across the line, but won the Big Boat Challenge on handicap.

Other Sydney Hobart contenders were conspicuous by their absence, with Comanche sidelined with most of her crew still on their way Down Under and InfoTrack, formerly Perpetual Loyal, watched on from amongst the spectators.

The result not withstanding, Wild Oats XI remains the one to watch for this year’s great race, keen to make up for two disappointing outings due to equipment failure. Her Rolex Sydney Hobart record of eight line honours (an unprecedented four consecutive wins) as well as twice winning on corrected time and securing two fastest times for the course, remain the benchmark and a record that is unlikely to even be broken.