Sydney to Hobart 2019: Shark ruins Sun Hung Kai Scallywag’s hopes as Comanche wins 75th edition of Bluewater Classic
- After leading the fleet through most of Friday, the Hong Kong-owned supermaxi slowed down because of a damaged rudder to finish fourth
- Skipper David Witt, competing in his 24th race, is devastated after failing to finish in the top three
A damaged rudder blamed on a shark scuppered Hong Kong-owned Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag’s hopes of a top-three finish, as Jim Cooney’s Comanche took line honours on Saturday in the Sydney to Hobart race in Australia.
Scallywag, skippered by veteran Sydney-Hobart sailor David Witt, was on course for a top-three finish in the 75th edition of the race – and possibly line honours – after leading through most of Friday before the supermaxi slowed down overnight.
Crew member Larry Jamison told Australian media that Scallywag hit a large shark off the Tasmania coast, with Witt devastated because they were cruising in near-perfect conditions towards the finish line. Last year, Scallywag suffered a broken bowsprit to end their hopes in the Bluewater Classic.
“We were running downwind when we heard a bang,” Jamison told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We couldn’t steer the boat so I thought we had broken the rudder.
“There was a two-and-a-half-metre shark wrapped around the rudder, so we had a bit of drama getting the sails down and clearing the shark. He flipped away, but it cost us.”