Wild Oats is potentially still on target for a new Sydney to Hobart race record as she enters Bass Strait this morning. Picture: BRETT COSTELLO
WILD Oats XI is steaming towards Hobart ahead of record pace in the 68th Rolex Sydney-Hobart.
The Sydney supermaxi could cross the finish by as early as midnight to 2am overnight, which would smash the race record of 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes 10 seconds Wild Oats set on debut in 2005.
The Oats already broke the record for the fastest exit through Sydney Heads on Boxing Day, and -- barring mishap -- has line honours in the bag.
Being positioned so far ahead of the race record, and the 76-strong fleet, also has the 100-footer leading the race for the Tattersalls Trophy as overall winner on handicap.
Last year's winner Ragamuffin Loyal is second on the water, followed by Lahana and Black Jack.
However, Ragamuffin could face a time penalty when she arrives in Hobart as punishment for jumping the start on Sydney Harbour.
That will be determined by an International Jury, which gathers annually to judge infringements of the rules and protests during the Sydney-Hobart.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Howard Piggott confirmed Ragamuffin's infringement.
"Ragamuffin broke the start -- her bow was over the line when the gun went," Piggott said.
"Under the sailing instructions [race rules] the recall advice has to be given out five minutes after the start.
"However, the signal to the boat at the five minute mark appears not to have been given to notify the skipper of Ragamuffin that he'd broken the start.
"For the reason the race chairman has decided to record him as over at the start but put an application for redress to the international jury."
That means the race committee's failure to notify the skipper could be Ragamuffin's escape clause from copping a penalty.
Hobart yacht Cougar II is the best-placed of the Tasmanian boats, placed 17th in the fleet, while fellow Tasmanians Helsal 3, Martela and Dump Truck have all spent time in the top three of their divisions on handicap.
Five-times line honours-winning skipper Mark Richards this morning described the opening day to the 68th Rolex Sydney-Hobart as a rough start."It was a pretty challenging night for the guys," Richards said.
"We've had a lot of sail changes and a lot of different conditions happening but we got through it pretty nicely.
"We actually got a bit of damage to one of our centreboards.
"We hit a log, I think, in fairly high seas and did a bit of damage there.
"But we've got that under control."
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