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The start of this year’s iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race included a dose of controversy, with reigning champion Andoo Comanche involved in an incident with a rival supermaxi.
On a gloomy day in the harbour city, last year’s victor almost collided with Scallywag just minutes after the race began, with Andoo Comanche opting to raise the protest flag.
The crew claimed the rival boat forced them to avert their path to avoid a collision and decided to lodge a protest with the officials.
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“It’s a classic port-and-starboard,” Andoo Comanche master Iain Murray told the broadcast on Tuesday.
“That’s too close. You can’t do that with 100-footers.”
Scallywag could complete a 720-degree penalty turn near Bondi, exonerating herself in the process and avoiding a potential showdown with the judges at the finishing line.
While the drama unfolded, LawConnect took an early lead despite an issue with a problematic headsail.
The conditions in Sydney were erratic earlier in the day, with thunderstorms around the harbour at midday, but the rain had passed by the time the ships set sail at 1pm.
The forecast for the next 48 hours aren’t pretty viewing, with Murray admitting potential thunder and lightning could be worrisome for Andoo Comanche.
“We don’t like thunderstorms … we get wet but it’s also very volatile for the wind,” he said.
“These big 100-footers, you have big sails and little sails and changing them is quite a process so you have to be well ahead of the curve and plan for it.
“It’s not like a little boat where it’s just bang, change the sails. It’s a half-hour mission to rig the boat for whatever you get.
“These volatile conditions are really testing for the big boats.”
The line-honours winner should sail into Hobart harbour some time on Thursday.
