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The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Has a Boat-Size Absence

Wild Oats XI, a crowd favorite that is one of the most successful yachts in the event’s history, will not compete this year pending repairs and rethinking.

By Kimball Livingston

When the hundred-foot Maxi yachts hit the starting line for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one absence will loom as a powerful presence.

There will be no Wild Oats XI, and Wild Oats XI is more than a boat.

Speculation is inevitable when a crowd favorite is missing. The report from the boat’s skipper, Mark Richards, is straightforward, but it won’t put an end to wondering. Of the boat and its owners, Richards said: “We had a structural failure in the bow and are having that addressed. The Oatley family are re-evaluating how to progress forward in our sport and they have just decided to have a break this year while they work it out.”

That resonates because in this race, Wild Oats XI has taken line honors (first boat to cross the finish line) nine times, set records three times and, beyond that, won the hearts of Australians.

“Kids 6, 7, 8 years old know the name,” Richards said.

No one dares use the past tense in speaking of Wild Oats XI, but questions arise when a boat that is synonymous with the Sydney Hobart, and that has been rush-repaired in the past to make a race, is absent.

Last year, the boat finished fourth at the Sydney Hobart after a sail ripped underway. It was in August of this year during a race in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands that the hull failure occurred.

In 2005, Bob Oatley commissioned the build of Wild Oats XI and set the standard — the boat swept all honors in its first Sydney Hobart race, only two weeks after launch. The boat would win line honors seven more times before Oatley’s death in 2016. His son Sandy, also passionate about sailing, carried on.

“I’d love to get one more crack,” Richards said. “I guess we’ll know more next year.”

Steve Quigley got his first crack as a crewman in 2012 and felt “daunted” joining the famously accomplished crew. Then, “We were first over the finish line, we set another course record, and we won our division on handicap,” he said. “I should have retired from racing then and there, but it wasn’t until I went walking around Hobart in my team shirt, with strangers asking for autographs, that I understood that Wild Oats XI had become the people’s boat.”

What next? Richards said, “The boat is still very capable.”

Quigley, a naval architect, was part of a team responsible for a bold 2015 redesign that bought the boat some time. In Quigley’s recollection, “I was the one in the meeting who had to tell Bob, ‘You may have the fastest Maxi in the world, but if you want to keep it that way, let’s chop it in half,’” he said.

Then they chopped it twice.

To respect the 100-foot maximum limit for the Sydney Hobart race, length was removed from the stern and added in a new bow section that accommodated bigger sails. Wild Oats XI.2 proved effective across the wind range, and success continued as the boat won line honors again in 2018.

Imagining a 2024 race, Quigley said, “Given the right combination of wind strength and direction, we could find a window to win, but the newer boats have a wider window.”

Design DNA in 2023 is different from 2005. Boats are now wider, yielding stability to carry taller masts and more sail. The maximum width of Wild Oats XI, 17 feet, is 45 percent less than LawConnect, winner of the most recent lead-up regatta series and yet not the newest or widest.

Sandy Oatley did not respond to a request for comment. More than one member of his crew spoke of the team as a “family,” so any decision is charged with emotion: Do you throw money at an unlikely Wild Oats XI.3, or would it satisfy if the boat slipped into the role of sentimental favorite and long shot?

The citizens of Hobart cheer for all, but it doesn’t hurt to arrive on Wild Oats XI. Andrew Henderson, part of the crew since 2005 and a 25-race veteran, said: “Anyone who can get a boat to Hobart deserves respect. The town offers the warmest reception in Australia. All of us understand how special that is.”

This year, however, after many years racing, he said, “I’m spending Christmas with the kids.”

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Wild Oats XI – how mods can keep a nine-year-old racer up to speed

• April 24, 2015

Crosbie Lorimer takes a close look at Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, a nine-year-old that is still taking line honours around the world

Wild Oats in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart 2014. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

Two themes recurred consistently in interviews with the skippers of the five super-maxis that raced the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart: good management and the right people. In both regards the core of the Wild Oats XI team has remained remarkably consistent over the decade since she was launched and the contribution that made to her record-breaking eighth win in 2014 should not be underestimated.

Apart from her crew of highly experienced and professional crew, who have raced aboard her for many years, Wild Oats is notable for the number of tweaks and reconfigurations she has had. A year earlier she had made the news after being nicknamed the Swiss Army Knife, following the addition of multiple foils. This year the mods were fewer, but no less significant. But the fact remains that for a nine-year-old boat to beat the brand new, no-holds-barred, master blaster Comanche was no mean feat.

But no amount of experience and expertise can make good a shortfall in boat speed. So what have been the major modifications necessary to keep Wild Oats XI on the pace?

Refinements have kept Wild Oats up to speed. Photo: Daniel Forster/Rolex

Regular crewmember naval architect Steve Quigley cites five changes that have contributed most to Wild Oats XI ’s winning ways over her nine-year lifespan.

The first was the removal of the forward rudder and the installation of the daggerboards, which made the boat more efficient downwind, but just as importantly improved lateral lift and VMG upwind. The daggerboards came with their own issues, however, the most problematic of which was the substantial shift in the centre of lateral resistance (CLR) which didn’t necessarily match the centre of effort (COE) under different sail configurations.

Small variations could be expected, but when changing from a jib to a Code 0 the COE on Wild Oats XI was moving forward by metres, producing lee helm in light airs.

To resolve this issue a forward centreboard was added – the second major modification – supplementing the twin daggerboards and stabilising the balance of the boat in the low wind ranges up to the point where boat speed matches wind speed, where the daggerboards take over again

The third refinement was the addition of a lateral foil (not a DSS, they say). Off the breeze in a seaway and strong winds Wild Oats XI had a tendency to bury the bow. The lateral foil provides lift and reduces that tendency, resulting in a more even downwind speed profile. A longer lateral foil was recently tested and shows further promise.

The fourth refinement was a new mast, 250kg lighter than its predecessor and substantially stiffer, with significant improvements in upwind speeds, especially in lighter airs. The stiffer mast gave the sail trimmers more options.

The final modification was the reshaping of the bow and rebuild of the bowsprit. The whole bow section was refaired to a narrower profile up to two metres abaft the stem and the bowsprit constructed to a more aerodynamic shape – the bobstay stem fitting was also lifted 500mm.

The result had additional benefits beyond streamlining. “The bow team . . . couldn’t believe how dry the boat now was,” says skipper Mark Richards.

As Wild Oats XI berthed in Hobart having achieved a record eight line honours wins in ten years, her owner Bob Oatley vowed to bring his boat back again next year. It is hard to know what further modifications can be effected. When quizzed on the subject after the race, helmsman Stuart Bannatyne smiled wryly, but was giving little away: “We’ve still got a few tricks up our sleeves!”

BOW The refairing of the bow section, remodelling of the bowsprit and lifting of the bobstay attachment to the stem have streamlined the forward end of the boat and made it drier for the bow team. Photographers are the only losers

LATERAL FOIL The lateral foil adds lift downwind, reducing any tendency to bury the bow into waves and thus improving the downwind speed profile. The foil is deployed to the windward side in upwind mode to minimise drag

FOILS From left to right: starboard daggerboard, rudder, keel, forward centreboard, port daggerboard. The aperture for the lateral foil can just be seen on the starboard side of the hull. Note original position of the bobstay

WITH COMANCHE Given that Wild Oats X I’s stern can fit twice into Comanche ’s it’s hard to believe that the two boats were so evenly matched. But when Comanche heels at 25° she has the same wetted surface as Wild Oats . The latter’s narrower cross section allows her to gain mileage from VMG running

Specifications

LOA 30.48m/100ft 0in

Beam 5.10m/16ft 9in

Draught 5.91m/19ft 5in

Displacement 32,000kg/70,550lb

Ballast 14,000kg/30,864lb

Sail area: mainsai l 382m 2 /4,112ft 2

Jib 228m 2 /2,454ft 2

Genoa 535m 2 /5,759ft 2

Spinnaker 880m 2 /9,472ft 2

IRC Rating 1.974

Designed by Reichel/Pugh

Built by McConaghy, launched December 2005

Hull type carbon/Nomex monohull

This is an extract from a feature in Yachting World March 2015 issue

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Wild Oats XI: A giant of Australian racing

The supermaxi yacht Wild Oats XI is here at the museum for a short visit. Wild Oats and its crew have become an Australian sporting brand, recognised by the public as Australia’s premier racing yacht and team through their dominance of the iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race, since Wild Oats XI was launched in 2005.

Wild Oats XI in full flight. Image: Rolex – Carlo Borlenghi.

The supermaxi yacht Wild Oats XI is here at the museum for a short visit . Wild Oats and its crew have become an Australian sporting brand, recognised by the public as Australia’s premier racing yacht and team through their dominance of the iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race, since Wild Oats XI was launched in 2005. This is Australia’s team, in the eye of the public Wild Oats XI is defending the country’s pride in the nation’s major ocean race – and its public adoration is thoroughly deserved.

Wild Oats XI . Image: Rolex – Daniel Forster.

Triple Crowns and breaking records

The national focus of the Sydney to Hobart is always on the boat to finish first, and in this regard, Wild Oats XI has an impressive scorecard. It has claimed eight line honours wins – at one point, with a run of four in a row! Twice it has achieved the Triple Crown: line honours, handicap win AND a race record. Wild Oats XI is one of the most successful yachts in the history of the arduous event and her helmsman, Mark Richards, is recognised as one of the race’s most successful skipper.

Wild Oats XI was launched just days before its first Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race in 2005, and despite a limited warm up, it sprinted to the finish line and into history taking the Triple Crown for the first time since 1945, and that was when Rani won the race that began the annual event. Wild Oats XI’s record time for the completing the 628 nautical mile course was 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes, and 10 seconds. In 2012, Wild Oats XI shaved 16 minutes, 58 seconds off that record and pulled off another Triple Crown, an unprecedented result. Since then the record has been taken by arch-rival Perpetual Loyal, but   Wild Oats XI is ready to maximise the opportunity again  if the right conditions are present on the 26th of December this year and try to reclaim that record.

Beneath Wild Oats XI’s elegant silver-grey hull is a racing machine. The crew operate an engineering masterpiece and remember, long distance blue water ocean racing takes place over a matter of days, not hours. The team live and work on board, it’s like a military vessel where their off-watch habitation quarters are fitted around a high tech structure, first and foremost designed for racing (and winning).

Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Regatta Yacht Race 2016. Image: Andrea Francolini/Wild Oats XI.

Designed to win

Wild Oats XI was commissioned by well-known winemaker the late Robert Oatley AO in 2005, the largest in a series of successful ocean racers he had owned and sailed on. It was designed by celebrated team Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design in San Diego USA. A protégé of Doug Petersen, John Reichel’s partnership with UK yacht designer Jim Pugh has produced a long series of successful ocean racing craft.

When the IMS rule took over from the IOR in the late 1980s as the means of handicapping offshore racing yachts it lead to cleaner/leaner and fairer hull shapes, assessed by computers for their potential speed rather than handicapped around a series of measurement points to produce a rating. Reichel/Pugh took advantage of the new direction in sleek racing yachts to create a sled like hull that dominated the local Trans Pac event from Los Angeles to Honolulu – a sleigh ride under spinnaker.

In 1999, their design Pyewacket for Roy Disney Jr (yes, Walt Disney’s nephew) grabbed the race and everyone’s attention, a narrow flat skateboard that was unstoppable. In 2004, Oatley invited Reichel Pugh team to produce his Wild Oats X, a 66-footer but wound up the ante with a canting keel, his perseverance with that concept helped pioneer the technology in ocean racing. When authorities drew the limit out to almost 100-foot maximum length for offshore ocean racers, Oatley and Reichel Pugh answered the challenge with Wild Oats XI,  a super maxi sled optimised to the nth degree and built in Australia. The builder McConaghy Yachts at Mona Vale Sydney is a world-class yacht builder and Wild Oats XI  speaks of their superior skills in crafting fine vessels.

Happy with the concept, the team had Oatley’s support to keep Wild Oats XI up to date. Sail and rig modifications are never-ending, but almost every year the hull and appendages were given a makeover, to the point it was known as the ‘Swiss Army Knife’: new and improved canards, hydrofoils, rudder and canting keel. Lighter is faster too – the keel can be angled 40 degrees sideways, so the modest amount of mass in the bulb, 12 tonnes, creates the same stability out wide as something almost 50% heavier would if stuck on the centreline. The downside is a loss of keel efficiency, so a canard profile centreboard just forward of the mast brings back the balance and lift. Better still Wild Oats XI has two centreboards, one each side, and they only put the leeward one down as required for even more effectiveness.

Heading up the Derwent River, towards Line Honours. Image: Andrea Francolini/Wild Oats XI.

One of the biggest updates was putting a longer bow on the yacht in 2015, which meant taking the extra length of the back end to keep to the required 100-feet. It’s stopped the tendency to dive into waves downwind. The team can drive her harder now, and have abandoned the hydrofoils sticking out horizontally, meaning less drag and more speed in racing conditions.

A huge square top mainsail, a massive Code Zero headsail for light weather, gigantic asymmetric spinnakers (which the crew control using hydraulic winches) and, the entire time the boat is racing, the engine is running to power the hydraulics. All this is handicapped severely, in fact, the boats elapsed time is pretty much doubled to create it’s handicap time, yet Wild Oats XI can still win. In favourable conditions, with the wind behind or abeam, the super maxi can keep up with the moving weather and optimise it’s race strategy around that one pattern, whereas the slower boats start in one system and then have to negotiate another before they finish.

Wild Oats XI can reach speeds of over 30 knots and boasts an average speed of 15 knots for the course – which is a remarkable achievement as many of the competing fleet can’t even reach that at their maximum speed. It’s in another league, and races just a few other similar size yachts each year, but in battle, it takes no prisoners.

Super maxi Wild Oats XI being toed from Woolwich to Sydney City Marine to undergoing radical changes for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2015. Image: Andrea Francolini/Wild Oats XI.

Ready to race

The 2015 Sydney to Hobart saw Wild Oats XI retire for the first time, due to a gear failure, while its recently launched nemesis, the skiff-like Comanche from the USA, got its revenge by winning line honours in a rough and damaging race. In the 2016 race, it was up against three other 100-foot long rivals, the modified 2008 designed  Perpetual Loyal , Scallywag ( ex- Ragamuffin 100,  launched 2014) and the newcomer  CQS  (the radically modified Nicorette,  first launched in 2004 when it won line honours as a 90-footer, now its 100-feet long). Bad luck struck again, and whilst in lead,  Wild Oats XI had to retire again, and the eventual line honours winner Perpetual Loyal  and set a new race record.

Wild Oats XI is by no means outclassed by the newer rivals, the different design and configuration approaches have their strengths and weaknesses and these advantages can even out over a long course, but Wild Oats XI has one strength over many others: over ten years of teamwork and spirit, which is recognised and adopted by the Australian public. All of which just adds to the team’s determination to win again.

— David Payne, Curator of Historic Vessels. 

Take a tour aboard  Wild Oats  10am-12pm and 1-4pm, 26-28 January 2018. See our website for details .

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David Payne

David Payne is Curator of Historic Vessels at Australian National Maritime Museum, and through the Australian Register of Historic Vessels he works closely with heritage boat owners throughout Australia researching and advising on their craft and their social connections. David has also been a yacht designer and documented many of the museum’s vessels with extensive drawings. He has had a wide sailing experience, from Lasers and 12-foot skiffs through to long ocean passages. Since 2012 he has been able to work closely with Aboriginal communities on a number of Indigenous canoe building and watercraft projects.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

Wild Oats XI

Has one of the great CVs in the 74-year history of the great race south. Eight line-honours titles (including two race records) and two overall victories, once again will be amongst the favourites especially in the line honours duel. The past three years have not been kind to her having retired in both 2015 and 2016 and then last year was penalised out of the race record and line honours after an incident at Sydney Heads. She will have plenty to prove this year with the majority of her strong crew returning to try to write another piece of Sydney Hobart Yacht Race history.

“I have a very good feeling about this year’s race from the team perspective. We have a great team of people both on the boat and shore crew and in particular, The Oatley Family,” said Richards.

Wild Oats XI Facebook page

Protest No 1 - Race Committee v Wild Oats XI

Competitor Details

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WILD OATS XI yacht NOT for charter*

30.48m  /  100' | mcconaghy boats | 2005 / 2015.

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The 30.48m/100' sail yacht 'Wild Oats XI' was built by McConaghy Boats in Australia. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Reichel-Pugh and she was last refitted in 2015.

Guest Accommodation

She is also capable of carrying up to 29 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Range & Performance

Wild Oats XI is built with a composite hull and composite superstructure, with composite decks.

*Charter Wild Oats XI Sail Yacht

Sail yacht Wild Oats XI is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

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Wild Oats XI wins 7th Sydney to Hobart

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HOBART, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Wild Oats XI took line honors in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for a record-equaling seventh time, winning by more than 30 nautical miles Saturday.

Wild Oats, skippered by Mark Richards and owned by billionaire wine mogul Bob Oatley, who is head of the Australian syndicate challenging for the next America’s Cup, crossed the finish line in the 628-nautical-mile race in 2 days, 6 hours, 7 minutes.

Thousands on the Hobart waterfront for the island capital’s holiday season festivals cheered on the crew of 20, who have a combined 250 Sydney to Hobart races between them.

Wild Oats set the race record last year when it finished in 1 day, 18 hours, but light winds this year left that mark well out of reach.

The other yacht to win seven Hobart races was Morna/Kurrewa IV, the first time in 1946 and the last in 1960.

Oatley said at the finish line at Constitution Dock that fluctuating weather conditions left his boat’s line honor chances in doubt.

"(We were) worried until we got across the line today because it is such a difficult race,” the 86-year-old Oatley said. “We lost the lead the first night out with difficult weather conditions. Then we were happy to pick it up again and improve on it which we have done all day.”

He said the crew will be back to attempt to make it eight wins next year.

“We’ve got a great future, more wins,” he said. “It’s beautiful, it’s wonderfully built.”

Anthony Bell’s Perpetual Loyal, which led for some of the first 24 hours of the race, finished second, more than three hours behind after having been 33 nautical miles back when Wild Oats crossed. Ragamuffin 100 was third, and by daylight Sunday eight yachts had finished.

Still to be determined was the winner on handicap.

The back of the fleet — mostly smaller yachts — was hit by southwesterly gale-force winds in Bass Strait overnight Saturday, with one yacht, Wedgetail, dismasted.

Race officials said two yachts lost their rudders in the storm — Luna Sea and the leading British Clipper 70 yacht, Henri Lloyd, bringing to eight the number of retirements in the original 94-yacht fleet that left Sydney Harbour on Thursday.

No other details were available about the dismasting, other than all on board were safe, race officials said.

In 1998, six sailors died and five yachts sank in a storm that hit the fleet early in the race.

Elektrostal

City in moscow oblast, russia / from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, dear wikiwand ai, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:.

Can you list the top facts and stats about Elektrostal?

Summarize this article for a 10 year old

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Meet the Team

This year’s Hamilton Island Wild Oats Rolex Sydney Hobart crew is once again a formidable mixture of highly experienced core crew, bolstered by the calibre of seven-time America’s Cup winner Murray Jones, world renowned navigator Stan Honey, and Australia’s SailGP and Moth gun Kyle Langford.

The team of 21, led once again by skipper Mark Richards, comprises some of the world’s most talented and applauded sailors boasting close to 250 Hobart races between them. The key to the supermaxi’s impressive history is undoubtedly picking the right crew and sticking with them, plus the Oatley family has kept the boat competitive via continuous modifications.

The team is vying for a record-breaking 10th line honours win in this year’s edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart and ready to face stiff competition from the other three supermaxis – Andoo Comanche, Black Jack and Law Connect.

Andrew Henderson

Hendo is one of the Wild Oats XI originals and is lining up for his 25 th Rolex Sydney Hobart, a milestone that is recognised by race organisers and the honour roll for the bluewater classic. Read more

Cameron Baillie

“Being on the start line of the race, you feel a sense of calm on the inside… but things are hectic on the outside. We do so much training and preparation and we are pretty good on our boat, but there’s a lot of activity around us.” Read more

Chris Links

“To be able to get back out there and test ourselves against all these great boats is what I’m looking forward to the most this year. All these 100 footers are so well sailed now; they’re getting faster and the teams are getting stronger.”

Craig Garnett

This is Craig’s 20th start for the Sydney Hobart. “It is always exciting being out there with all the boats. There is usually a lot going on at the bow, but it’s pretty magical crossing the line as soon as the gun is fired.” Read more

Daniel Oatley

“Sydney Harbour is one of the most amazing harbours on the planet and to have the spectator fleet and that many yachts on the start line, the fever and adrenalin is remarkable.” Read more

Guido Belgiorno-Nettis

“On that start line, if you have a chance to stop and think about it, it is really special. The boats are so fast, there is so much going on and when you are on a big boat, everything is amplified.” Read more

John Hildebrand

“There’s a little anxiety about getting a good start and getting out of the heads, but it’s exciting, fun times. Once we clear the Heads, everything calms down a bit and we get on with the job.” Read more

Josh Whittaker

“You are constantly thinking “Don’t make a mistake”. The final ten minutes is the fastest ten minutes of your life. Before you know it, you are off.” Read more

Kyle Langford

Kyle claimed his first world title when his crew won the RC44 World Championships and went on to join ORACLE TEAM USA just days before the 34th America’s Cup. He re-joined for the 2017 campaign in Bermuda then expanded to offshore sailing as a member of Team Brunel in the 2017-2018 Volve Ocean Race, finishing third. Kyle is the wing trimmer for Australia SailGP. Read more

Mark Richards

Ricko has skippered the mighty silver bullet since its first line honours win in 2005. Known for his precision starts at the pin end, he’s excited to line-up with the team for what will be a tough quest for a 10 th line honours victory. Read more

Matthew Mason

“You must concentrate on your job to ensure that you’re doing it well. It’s a big team effort onboard and it only takes one person onboard a boat of 20+ crew to have a little lapse of judgement and it snowballs from there.”

Matthew Shillington

“It’s a relief more than anything to get underway, because all you’ve been doing for the longest time is training.” Read more

Murray Jones

Murray Jones is one of the most respected and decorated keelboat sailors in the world, and a member of the America’s Cup Hall of Fame with six wins with three teams. Read more

Nathan Ellis

“I always feel a little anxious, but it’s an exciting time. The final five minutes before the start gun go pretty fast; you don’t get to hear much because of the helicopters overhead.” Read more

Paul is the primary caretaker of Hamilton Island Wild Oats, coordinating the maintenance and logistics programs and keeping the boat in top condition year-round. Read more

Paul Westlake

Another founding crew member, Flipper says continuing the Wild Oats legacy is a fantastic feeling. Read more

Robbie Naismith

Kiwi Robbie is a trimmer who has been part of the Wild Oats XI program since its inception in 2005. Read more

Rodney Daniel

“One thing I always remember to take on this race is a pair of thermals and a good head torch… plus plenty of sunscreen. There are no lucky charms!”

Stan is one of the ocean racing’s most famous navigators plus a highly accomplished engineer. Since 1992 he has set 22 sailing records as navigator. Special report in Yachting World on Stan. Read more

Steve Quigley

“Exhilaration, anticipation, nerves, excitement. All those emotions and it’s the same when you arrive in Hobart. They are the two great moments of the race – everything in the middle is a bit dodgy.” Read more

Tim Wiseman

Another Pittwater offspring among the crew, Crackers has been part of Australia’s most successful 100-foot maxi campaign since the beginning. In his downtime he enjoys wing dinging and cycling. Read more

Emma Roberts

“So much time, effort and emotion goes into preparing a boat and crew for this race. The thing that I am looking forward to the most, is being able to celebrate together, as a team and recognise all that has gone into getting the yacht and team ready for such a massive undertaking; it’s a huge job to get that boat to Hobart in one piece!” Read more

Jeremy Rowles

“It’s the public embrace for me! Having that many people wishing you ‘good luck’ and joining you in that adventure is pretty special. There’s lots of other big races around the world, but none of them have the spectator participation element so strongly and so close.”

Ashton Scott

“There is an extraordinary amount going through my head on the start of the Big Race. A great sense of pride to see the boat on the start line, admiring what we have achieved as a team.” Read more

Lewis Brake

“It’s the pinnacle of yacht racing in Australia and one of the most famous races in the world. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and being a part of it all again.” Read more

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