LDV Comanche has been declared line honours winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after its protest against Wild Oats XI was upheld.
The protest was regarding an incident early in the race, which saw Wild Oats XI cross the line first on Wednesday.
The official race organisers took to Twitter to explain the decision, saying Wild Oats XI ‘failed to keep clear while tacking’, and was penalised by one hour as a result.
LDV Comanche (right) has been declared line honours winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after its protest against Wild Oats XI (left) was upheld
The protest was regarding an incident early in the race, which saw Wild Oats XI cross the line first on Wednesday
The official race organisers took to Twitter to explain the decision, saying Wild Oats XI ‘failed to keep clear while tacking’, and was penalised by one hour as a result
LDV Comanche was then declared the line honours winner of the race.
Comanche owner Jim Cooney said the decision to uphold the appeal and declare his yacht the winner was a ‘very pleasant surprise’.
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said he was ‘very disappointed’, but could ‘see the jury’s point of view’.
‘Everyone’s a genius in hindsight. We made our decisions and have to live with them today. We’ll get back up on the horse.’
Wild Oats owner Sandy Oatley congratulated Mr Cooney on the win.
Before the appeal, Wild Oats XI appeared to have smashed the race record in claiming provisional line honours for the ninth time after a dramatic finish.
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said he was ‘very disappointed’, but could ‘see the jury’s point of view’
Comanche owner Jim Cooney said the decision to uphold the appeal and declare his yacht the winner was a ‘very pleasant surprise’
Wild Oats owner Sandy Oatley (pictured with skipper Mark Richards) congratulated Mr Cooney on the win
The Oatley-family owned supermaxi crossed the finish line in Hobart at 9.48pm on Wendesday – about 16 minutes ahead of LDV Camanche.
After the race, Wild Oats XI skipper Mr Richards rushed over to ask Mr Cooney if the protest was going ahead, to which Mr Cooney said: ‘Yes, I’m going to pursue it.’
‘Okay, no worries mate, no problem,’ was Mr Richards reply.
Mark Richards addresses the media at the end of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race
Mr Cooney explained the incident at the heart of the protest, saying it was a ‘port/starboard infringement’.
‘We hailed starboard; they were the give-way boat and they left it until far too late to tack and they tacked right in our water. We had to take evasive action or possibly take both of us out of the race,’ he said.
‘We could have taken their backstay out; they could have broken our bowsprit.’
The protest was heard by an international jury, who ruled in favour of LDV Comanche.
The Oatley-family owned supermaxi crossed the finish line in Hobart at 9.48pm on Wendesday – about 16 minutes ahead of LDV Camanche