Wild Oats XI, owned by Bob Oatley and skippered by Mark Richards, approaches Cape Raoul at sunrise. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.
Wild Oats XI with one tack left before the finish off Hobart. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.
Wild Oats XI on the layline to the finish off Hobart. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.
by Giles Pearman
At 09.34.14 AEDT on 28th December Bob Oatley's, Reichel/Pugh designed, 30m (98-foot) supermaxi Wild Oats XI crossed the Hobart finish line at the end of the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart, to take line honours in the 64th edition of the 628 nautical-mile race. This is Wild Oats XI's fourth straight line honours victory.
Wild Oats XI completed the course in 1 day 20 hours, 34 minutes and fourteen seconds; just under two hours outside the course record she set in 2005.
Wild Oats XI owner Bob Oatley and skipper Mark Richards receive a Rolex timepiece from Richard de Leyser, Rolex Australia, on arrival into Hobart.
At a dockside ceremony at Constitution Dock, Bob Oatley and skipper Mark Richards were presented with a Rolex Chronometer and the Illingworth Trophy for being first yacht across the finish line.
Second boat home was Grant Wharington's Don Jones designed, 30m (98-foot) Skandia, which held the lead over Wild Oats XI for much of yesterday and had threatened to steal the show.
Skandia sails past the Organ Pipes. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.
The countdown clock is now running for the overall corrected-time victory, with Bob Steel's Quest currently lying in pole position according to the Yacht Tracker.
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008
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