Bob Oatley’s 100ft long supermaxi ocean racing yacht, Wild Oats XI, is potentially the fastest ocean racer in its class in the world. She is the current race record holder for one of the world’s most gruelling offshore challenges – the 630 nautical mile Sydney to Hobart classic. She covered the distance in 1 day, 18 hours, 10 minutes immediately after she was launched in 2005. It was part of a ‘Triple Crown’ achievement – first to finish, race record and victory on handicap. Since then Wild Oats XI has been first into Hobart on three other occasions. She will be going for her fifth line honours in December this year.
Wild Oats XI races under the sponsorship of Robert Oatley Vineyards and Australia’s premier tropical island resort, Hamilton Island. Her captain and skipper is Mark Richards, a world class offshore yachtsman with a successful background in the prestigious America’s Cup and the world match racing circuit. Her star-studded crew features many of Australia’s best yachtsmen, including America’s Cup and world championship winning sailor Iain Murray.
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