Wild Oats XI returns to ocean racing tonight

12:35 AM Fri 7 Nov 2008 GMT

'Wild Oats XI aiming for a fourth line honours win in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008' &copy Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours favourite Wild Oats XI will return to ocean racing this weekend when she sets sail tonight in the CYCA's 180 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Island Race.

The Reichel/Pugh 98 heads a fleet of 26 boats, 23 of them Sydney Hobart contenders, in the 180 nautical mile race north from Sydney to Cabbage Tree Island, just north of Port Stephens, and back to Sydney.

The race, for the prestigious Halvorsen Brothers Trophy, is the final qualifying race in New South Wales for the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Wild Oats XI has undergone significant 'go faster' modifications in recent months in preparation for owner Bob Oatley and skipper Mark Richards' bid to achieve a record fourth successive line honours victory in the 628 nautical mile race.

Richards has also suggested that, given the right weather, the super maxi could sail to Hobart in less than 24 hours.

Wild Oats XI comes out of her winter hibernation at Bankstown airport Sydney (AUS) - 26/10/08
ph. Andrea Francolini - Andrea Francolini&copy Click Here to view large photo

Wild Oats XI gave a brief glimpse of her new speed when she joined a 75 boat fleet for the CYCA's St Arnau Wednesday Twilights this week, sailing the shortened course in light winds in just 43 minutes.

She outsailed the 80-footer Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5 in the Twilights, but there will be no confrontation offshore this weekend as yet as Andrew Short surprisingly has not entered his boat for the Cabbage Tree Island Race.

Among the other Rolex Sydney Hobart contenders racing to Cabbage Tree will be the rival TP52s Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer) and Wot Now (Graeme Wood).

CYCA Ocean Racer of the Year Award winners Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas will be competing with AFR Midnight Rambler which is currently leading the Blue Water Pointscore, of which the Cabbage Tree Island Race is the fourth of seven events, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, that make up this prestigious series.

An interesting newcomer having her first race in Australia will be Lake Macquarie yachtsman Anthony Paterson's latest Tow Truck, a Ker 11.3 which has been shipped out from the UK.

Other boats racing to Cabbage Tree Island that are among the 112 yachts which have applied to enter the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race include Abracadabra, Balance, Copernicus, Eleni, Impeccable, Isabella, Karakatoa II, Limit (Corby 49), Mahligai, Mr Beaks Ribs, Obsession, Papillon, Patrice Six, Pla Loma IV, Quetzalcoatl, Secret Mens Business #1, St Jude, Strewth and Wot Yot.

by Peter Campbell