Wild Oats XI hunts record in Cabbage Tree Is. Race

1:56 AM Sat 8 Nov 2008 GMT

'Wild Oats XI' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, the triple Rolex Sydney to Hobart line honours winner has until 2.30 this afternoon (local time) to finish and break the race record for the CYCA's 180 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Island Race which started from Sydney Harbour last evening.

She rounded Cabbage Tree Island, just north of Port Stephens, before this morning's 0705 'sked' with the 26 boat fleet and should be enjoying a fast reach back down the coast in fresh north-westerly winds.

'She must cross the finish line before 2.30 this afternoon to break Alfa Romeo's record of 18 hours 35 minutes 56 seconds set in 2005,' CYCA sailing manager Justine Kirkjian said. 'At this stage she looks to have a good chance, its blowing 15 knots on the harbour and fresher offshore.'

At the 0705 sked, with skipper Mark Richards reporting that the 98-footer had rounded Cabbage Tree, the rest of the fleet was spread from Stockton Bight south to Tuggerah with Impeccable and Isabella bringing up the tail end of the fleet.

by Peter Campbell

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Wild Oats XI hunts record in Cabbage Tree Is. Race

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