O
vershadowing the 2017
edition of the Rolex
Sydney Hobart was
the most elemental of
mistakes between the two
main contenders, Wild Oats XI and
fellow supermaxi LDV Comanche. Our
media boat was near their last crossing
as they swept out the Sydney Heads
where these two 100-footers sparred
like the ocean gladiators they are. But
even in boxing there are rules and so
it is with yachting. The most basic
applies to all sailing vessels, racing or
otherwise, and that is the vessel on
starboard tack has right of way over the
one on port tack.
So as helmsman on Comanche,
two times America’s Cup winner
James Spithill drove the supermaxi
at a sedate 10kts out of the Heads he
was unperturbed to see Wild Oats
XI crossing his course ahead. On
Wild Oats XI skipper and helmsman
Mark Richards was glancing at
the approaching black hull of
Comanche that was looming larger
on his starboard side. Beside him
was tactician and former America’s
Cup regatta director Iain Murray; and
both were looking quizzically at theoncoming Comanche.
For those of us who’ve helmed in
yacht races, this is the moment of truth,
the moment when decisions have to be
made. These moments can feel like a
lifetime because the options are being
weighed up. From the carbon deck
of Wild Oats XI a simple transit taken
from a stanchion would have shown
that Comanche was on a near collision
course and the telemetry on Murray’s
iPad would have confirmed that. The
onboard video from Channel 7 records
Richards saying: “They’re probably
going to protest us,” as shouts of
“starboard” are heard from Comanche.
But still, the moments ticked by and
Wild Oats XI held her course, on port
tack.
With a likely collision imminent the
race rules state that the impeded boat
should try to avoid a crash and this is
what Comanche did by luffing up to
windward to allow the grey slender hull
of Wild Oats XI to cross ahead of it. But
by doing so, Oats had clearly impeded
the course of Comanche. “We had to
take evasive action or possibly take
both of us out of the race,” recounted
owner and skipper Jim Cooney. “We
could have taken their backstay out;
they could have broken our bowsprit.”
Given the magnitude of this as an
ocean race, rather than a harbour
regatta, one rationale would be: in
these crucial moments both these
favourites should seek to avoid one
another and leave the gladiatorial
contest until the best place – the open
ocean – because the race to the Heads
is only for bragging rights and the real
trophy awaits 628nm miles away.
So as Oats crossed the bow of
Comanche, Richards spun the largetradeboats.com.au 17