LawConnect wins the Sydney to Hobart in one of the closest finishes in the history of the race

LawConnect has come from behind to win line honours in one of the closest Sydney to Hobart races ever held. 

The supermaxi yacht and its rival Andoo Comanche were locked in an incredibly tight battle for victory as they sailed up the Derwent River.

The two 100-footers, who have been tit-for-tat the entire race, were within sight of each other at around 7am (AEDT) on Thursday.

Comanche, chasing back-to-back wins, held a two-nautical-mile lead with winds dropping as the pair got closer to the finish line.

Comanche had the advantage down Tasmania’s east coast on Wednesday night, but LawConnect – runner-up at the past three events – made up ground by sunrise.

The closest finish in Sydney to Hobart history came in 1982 when Condor of Bermuda beat Apollo by a mere seven seconds.

LawConnect, skippered and owned by Christian Beck, was first out of the Heads in Sydney on Boxing Day after a dramatic start to the 628-nautical mile bluewater classic.

Comanche – the pre-race favourite – flew a protest flag, accusing fellow supermaxi SHK Scallywag of tacking too close to her as the pair made their way out.

Scallywag, which completed a protest turn as a result, was forced to retire roughly six hours into the race after breaking her bow sprit.

Comanche had led the race until it was passed on the Derwent River in one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the BlueWater classic

Eleven of the race’s starting 103-strong fleet have pulled the pin, with some reporting damage and seasickness in challenging conditions which included a thunderstorm on the first night.

LawConnect navigator Chris Lewis described the stormy seas as “wild” with 180-degree wind shifts.

Moneypenny, URM Group and Alive are in a bunch about 90 nautical miles behind the two duelling leaders, with the third remaining supermaxi Wild Thing 100 further back in sixth.

URM Group has battled jib damage and lost her code zero spinnaker.

Shane Connelly, skipper of retired two-handed entrant Rum Rebellion, was briefly flung overboard on Boxing Day off the NSW coast in strong winds.

There may be further challenges for crews, with a strong wind warning in place on Thursday for waters off Tasmania’s east coast.