In the Press

Engineering

Redemption! Wild Oats XI Wins 9th Line Honors Victory in the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race

December 28, 2018 · Posted by kate

Hobart, Tasmania (December 28, 2018) The Reichel/Pugh-designed Wild Oats XI surges to victory to take her 9th Line Honors win in the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race.

Three years of trauma and heartache for the Wild Oats XI family has ended, after a premature retirement from the 2015 race with a torn mainsail, followed by Bob Oatley’s death in January 2016 and another race retirement in 2016 due to hydraulic ram issues, and then the much publicized 2017 race when Wild Oats XI was penalized one hour after an incident with Comanche and lost her line honors crown and a new race record to Comanche. Val Oatley described Wild Oats XI 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart line honors victory perfectly alongside the dock in Hobart this morning: “Three years of misery to this moment,” and you could not wipe the smile from her face or that of her sons Sandy and Ian, as they waited for their Supermaxi to moor alongside the pier. Wild Oat’s skipper Mark ‘Ricko’ Richards handed over the helm to the Late Bob Oatley’s grandson, Daniel (Ian Oatley’s son, on his third Sydney Hobart on the family yacht) on the final leg to the finish.  It was a blissful moment for the Oatley family and their supporters as their silver Supermaxi crossed the Hobart finish line at 08:07:21 on Friday, 28 December.

Asked how this ninth win weighs up against Wild Oats XI’s other victories, Richards said: “This is one of the best yachting wins of my life and I’ve won a lot of races.

“This is one of the best feelings, not just for me, but for the whole team, the Oatley family. After an event like last year, to come through and redeem yourself, today is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. Money can’t buy that sort of stuff.”

Richards also lauded the worthiness and sheer class of Wild Oats XI, especially against such a strong calibre field of super maxis yachts, of which there were five entries, but four finishers, after Scallywag withdrew with a broken bowsprit a few hours after the Boxing Day start.

“I think there are only six grand prix hundred footers in the world,” he said. “They (the five entries) are the best 100 footers in the world – and to have a boat this old still showing the way is pretty impressive. She is a remarkable machine.

Peter Harburg’s Reichel/Pugh-designed Black Jack from Queensland, was first out of Sydney Harbor and second over the finish line at 08:35:06 followed by the 100’ Comanche at 08:36:09, the fourth 100’ Christian Becks Info Track finished at 08:51:17. Black Jack had finished 3rd in the 2017 race. Black Jack was originally Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo and launched in 2005 taking 2nd in line honors to Wild Oats that year. Alfa went on to huge success in Europe and came home to take line honors from Wild Oats in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, after setting a new course record in the 2009 Transpac Race.  Alfa Romeo was then sold to Europe as Esimit Europa, which went on to dominate Maxi racing in Europe. Queenslander, Peter Harburg bought her in 2017, renamed her Black Jack following updates to the boat. The Black Jack team set a new course record in the 2018 Brisbane to Gladstone Race and took Line Honors in the 2018 Sydney to Gold Coast Classic.

In the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Wild Oats XI won the Trifecta setting a new Course Record with a Line Honors victory and was the Overall Winner on corrected time. Wild Oats repeated the Trifecta in 2012.

Wild Oats and Black Jack, built by McConaghy Boats – Sydney, winning for well over a decade is further proof of the longevity that comes with a the Reichel/Pugh brand.


Reichel/Pugh 10 competitor’s included: Alive, Apsaras, Black Jack , Chutzpah, Hartbreaker, Naval Group, Primitive Cool, Voodoo, Wild Oats X and Wild Oats XI.

Rolex Sydney Hobart 2018 Line Honours – Live Stream

All Rolex Sydney Hobart News
WildOatsXI Team Facebook
Black Jack Yachting Facebook

source: Di Pearson and Rupert Guiness, RSHYR media
images courtesy of ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

REICHEL/PUGH’S HISTORY IN THE 628nm ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART BLUE WATER CLASSIC:

  • R/P Yachts have won the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race Overall (on handicap) in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and now 2018
  • Since 1996 RP Maxis have taken Line Honors 12 times, with Wild Oats XI taking Line Honors a record nine times in thirteen years (2005-2008, 2018)
  • R/P designs have reset the course record three times in 1996, 2005 and 2012

2018 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish, 6th ORCi Overall, 4th ORCi Division 1 – Oatley Family
2018 – 66’ Alive – 1st Overall, 1st IRC Div 0, 1st ORCi Overall, 1st ORCi Division 1 – P. Turner
2018 – 100’ Black Jack – 2nd in Line Honors, 4th ORCi Overall, 3rd ORCi Division 1 – P. Harburg
2018 – 66’ Wild Oats X – 2nd Overall, 2nd IRC Div 0, 2nd ORCi Overall, 2nd ORCi Division 1 – 11th Hour Racing / Oatley Family
2018 – 63’ Voodoo – 3rd Overall, 1st IRC Div 1, 3rd ORCi Overall, 1st ORCi Division 2 – H. Ellis
2018 – 40’ Chutzpah – 2nd IRC Division 2, 3rd ORCi Division 2 – B. Taylor
2017 – 100’ Black Jack – 3rd in Line Honors – P. Harburg
2017 – 40’ Chutzpah – 3rd Division 2 (IRC) and 8th overall corrected time – B. Taylor
2017 – 66’ Wild Oats X – 4th Division 0 & 7th in Line Honors – The Oatley Family
2014 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish and 1st Overall – B. Oatley – 8th Line Honors Win In 10 Years
2014 – 40’ Chutzpah – 1st Class 2 (IRC) and 2nd Overall corrected time – B. Taylor
2014 – 52’ Scarlet Runner – 1st Division 1 ORCi and 2nd Division 1 IRC – R. Date
2013 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2012 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish & First Overall (Trifecta Win and Course Record Set: 1 day 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds) – B. Oatley
2012 – 63’ Mini Maxi LOKI – 2nd Overall & 1st IRC Division 1 – S. Ainsworth
2012 – 66’ Mini Maxi Black Jack – 3rd Overall IRC & 1st Overall ORCi – P. Harburg
2011 – 63’ Mini Maxi LOKI – 1st Overall – S. Ainsworth
2010 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2010 – 51’ Secret Men’s Business 3.5 – 1st Overall – G. Boettcher
2009 – 100’ Alfa Romeo – 1st to Finish – N. Crichton,
2009 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 2nd to Finish
2008 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish (Record 4th Consecutive Line Honors Win) – B. Oatley
2007 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2006 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – B. Oatley
2005 – 100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish & Overall Winner Corrected Time (Trifecta Win and Course Record Set: 1 d, 18 h, 40 m and 10 s) – B. Oatley
2005 – 100’ Alfa Romeo – 2nd to Finish & 2nd on Corrected Time in Fleet – N. Crichton
2002 – 90’ Alfa Romeo – 1st to Finish – N. Crichton
1996 – 80’ Morning Glory – 1st to Finish (Course Record Set: 2 d, 14 h, 7 m, 10 s) – Dr. H. Plattner

Video | Wild Oats XI Evolution

December 19, 2015 · Posted by kate

How does a ten year old yacht remain at the forefront of one of the great ocean race classics?

With her distinctively slim and elegant hull, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI has taken line honours in eight out of the last ten Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races. In collaboration with Reichel/Pugh, her original builders McConaghy Boats have recently completed her most radical evolution yet. On the eve of the 628 nautical mile 2015 RSHYR on December 26th, McConaghy TV shares a film about forging this new reality. Additionally, Reichel/Pugh’s Jim Pugh breaks down the carefully calculated modifications to boost her performance in up-range conditions. Calculations that will hopefully place Wild Oats XI ahead of the 110 yacht fleet into Hobart for the ninth time in 11 starts.

Visit the builder’s site at mcconaghyboats.com
facebook.com/McConaghyBoats

Title photo from August 2015 © Andrea Francolini

WILD OATS XI Preparations Reaffirmed for the Sydney Hobart Race

December 15, 2015 · Posted by kate

Sydney, Australia (December 14, 2015) – After a perfect start in light winds at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s annual SOLAS Big Boat Challenge bash around Sydney Harbor, Bob and Sandy Oatley’s super maxi 100-foot Wild Oats XI steadily drew away from the bigger, wider, more powerful 100 footers, Ragamuffin 100 and Perpetual Loyal, on every leg of the 14 nautical mile course. In the end, 3 minutes 50 seconds separated the slim and elegant Wild Oats XI from the fleet as they crossed the finish line off the Opera House first. Read More …

Transpac: Wild Oats XI Has Fastest Elapsed Time | Grand Illusion Is Overall Winner

July 26, 2015 · Posted by kate

Congratulations to all the owners and crews of Reichel/Pugh yachts racing in the 2015 Transpac Race!

Reichel/Pugh designs currently hold the Transpac course records for both fixed and moveable ballast designs, have set new Transpac course records four times since 1999, and have taken elapsed time honors in eight of the last nine Transpacs.

Honolulu, Hawaii (July 26, 2015) – The overall winner is a Santa Cruz 70 Grand Illusion designed by Bill Lee and featuring Reichel/Pugh-designed the keel and rudder appendages. Grand Illusion has now equaled the record for most overall Transpac wins, joining the 88′ Lurline which won the first two races in 1906 and 1908, and again in 1912. However, Grand Illusion holds the status alone for winning overall three times under the same Owner/Skipper, Ed & James McDowell.

Roy Pat Disney’s and Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI had the fastest elapsed time of 6d 10h 37m 2s to win the 2015 Merlin Trophy and take first in Division 1 at the Transpac’s Diamond Head finish line. Wild Oats XI is a 100-foot custom design famous for its eight elapsed time victories, two overall fleet wins and is the current course record holder in the Sydney-Hobart race. Read More …

Rolex Sydney Hobart: Wild Oats XI’s Historic Eighth Line Honours Victory (630nm)

December 29, 2014 · Posted by kate

SydneyHobart2014-logo-croppedCongratulations to the owners and crews of the Reichel/Pugh designed yachts that competed in the 2014 ROLEX Sydney to Hobart Race. Photo © Carlo Borlenghi

100’ Wild Oats XI – 1st to Finish – 8th Line Honors Win In 10 Years – Bob Oatley

40′ Chutzpah – 1st IRC Division 2 –  2nd Overall in fleet IRC  –  2nd ORCi Division 2 – Bruce Taylor

52′ Scarlet Runner – 1st in Division 1 ORCi – 2nd Division 1 IRC – Robert Date Read More …


Back to top