The Yachts

Wild Oats XI

Wild Oats XI

 

After breaking the race’s 13 year-old open record in 2012, in the time of 22hrs, 3mins and 46secs, Wild Oats XI missed last year’s race as it was undergoing modifications. She is back and the 2014 Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race marks the first time that Bob Oatley’s super maxi will go up against Anthony Bell’s Perpetual LOYAL since Oats beat her rival for a seventh Sydney Hobart line honours title last year.

Both boats underwent the knife again recently and both have beefed up their crews for this stoush. Bob Oatley and Mark Richards have rounded up some of yachting’s brightest, including Kiwis Stu Bannatyne, Robbie Naismith and Matthew Mason along with local names Iain Murray and Steve Jarvin.

Nine year-old Wild Oats XI continues to evolve as regular modifications keep her at the forefront of technology. She nowboasts a hydrofoil wing (fitted last year), retractable forward rudder, two retractable daggerboards, canting keel, and aconventional rudder. She will debut a new streamlined bow and the cables supporting the bowsprit have been replaced by a carbon fibre panel.

Wild Oats XI is the only boat in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart to have twice achieved the historic treble of line honours, new race record and overall win. She also still holds the record for the most consecutive Hobart line honours wins – four – from 2005 to 2008 - andthe Cabbage Tree Island Race record of 12hrs 15mins 55secs, set in 2012.

 

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name Wild Oats XI
Sail Number AUS10001
Owner Robert Oatley
Skipper Mark Richards
Navigator Brett Ellis
Crew D Senogles, R Mundle, C Links, G Taylor, M Mason, P Magee, S Major, J Wilson, A Henderson, J Hildebrand, I Murray, S Bannatyne, S Quigley, S Jarvin, J Whittaker, R Naismith, T Tindill
State QLD
Club HIYC
Type RP100
Designer Reichel/Pugh, USA
Builder McConaghy
Construction Carbon/Nomex
LOA 30.48
Beam 5.1
Draft 5.9