On track for new record

The 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is set to come right down to the wire and in record time, as the frontrunners race towards Hobart.

LDV Comanche continues to lead over Wild Oats XI, but that lead that was as large as 20 nautical miles over night has been reduced to just over 10 as the lead yachts run along the Tasmanian east coast.

Overnight, LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI maintained 20-25 knots in the strengthening north easterly winds, but as they approach Storm Bay and the fickle Derwent, anything could happen, with Wild Oats XI perfectly placed to make a run on the overnight leader and take her ninth line honours win if conditions lighten in the final leg.

At present there are six yachts all well within Perpetual Loyal’s record time of one day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds, set last year. Perpetual Loyal – sailing this year as InfoTrack – currently sits in fifth for line honours, with Beau Geste in fourth, Black Jack third.

Wild Oats XI’s smaller sibling, Wild Oats X is just outside last year’s record pace, but sits comfortably in seventh place for line honours.

At their present speeds, the first yachts could make Hobart by early evening (around 8pm), but conditions along the Derwent could change that and the leaderboard significantly. Of the 102 yachts that started, only one retirement has been recorded with German TP52 Rockall pulling out with a broken rudder.

Regardless of the outcome, the final leg is set to be an absolute thriller.