LDV Comanche on course for Sydney to Hobart race record

HOBART, Australia (AP) – Super maxi LDV Comanche held a big lead and was well inside a record pace in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race early Wednesday.

The line honors favorite established a buffer of nearly 15 nautical miles over rival super maxi Wild Oats XI just over 18 hours into the race.

LDV Comanche was about 365 nautical miles into the 630 nautical miles to Hobart on the island state of Tasmania.

Supermaxi LDV Comanche enters open water during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

LDV Comanche was averaging around 20 knots and on schedule to finish inside Perpetual Loyal’s 2016 race record time of 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes, 20 seconds.

The first four boats were all on record pace, although those projections and the chance of a record could be dashed if they encounter light winds once they cross Bass Strait.

The big loser overnight was InfoTrack, the former Perpetual Loyal, which slipped from third to fifth. The yacht was overtaken by Black Jack, the first boat out of Sydney Heads on Tuesday, and the 24-meter (80-foot) Hong Kong boat, Beau Geste, the only non-super maxi in the top five.

The fleet of 102, including 27 international yachts, was still intact after the first night with no retirements reported.

LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI nearly collided after a tack from the eight-time line honors winner Wild Oats 15 minutes into the race. That brought it to within a few meters of LDV Comanche, which raised a protest flag.

Wild Oats XI could receive a time penalty after the race concludes.

Some of the larger boats leave the start line during the Sydney Hobart yacht race Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Some of the larger boats leave the start line during the Sydney Hobart yacht race Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Supermaxi Wild Oats XI enters open water during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Supermaxi Wild Oats XI enters open water during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

The supermaxi Black Jack passes the heads of Sydney Harbour during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

The supermaxi Black Jack passes the heads of Sydney Harbour during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

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