Onboard Wild Oats XI

In 2016 Australia’s most successful yacht, Wild Oats XI will again take part in the gruelling 628 nautical mile Sydney to Hobart yacht race, looking to extent her record eight line honours wins to an incredible nine victories. Since being launched in 2005, she has continuously shown her class and indeed speed, with skipper Mark Richards at the helm, she has set and reset her own race records again and again.

Starting her first Sydney Hobart race just a matter of days after she was launched, Wild Oats XI went out and achieved what’s known as the triple crown, not only winning line honours in the great race, but setting a new race record and winning on handicap.

That race record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds fell in 2012 when she took 16 minutes and 58 seconds off the time and secured her second Triple Crown in the process.

Last year she underwent major remodelling work in an effort to increase her speed against much younger yachts, but damage sustained in extreme weather conditions forced her to retire from the race. This year though, skipper Mark Richards (pictured above with Wild Oats XI owner Sandy Oatley) says they will be back stronger than ever and hungry to secure their ninth win in the classic race.

Putting her through her paces during Audi Hamilton Island race Week, Mark Richards took time out to show Audi Magazine around the champion yacht.