Supermaxis Comanche, LawConnect continue duel in Sydney to Hobart race, Hong Kong boat 3rd
With more than half the race completed, the city’s SHK Scallywag 100 was third, while Wild Thing 100 became the first supermaxi to retire
Supermaxis Master Lock Comanche and defending champion LawConnect continued their close duel on Saturday on the second day of the 80th running of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Just over 27 hours into the race that began on Friday in Sydney Harbour and ends on the island state of Tasmania, Comanche had a four-nautical-mile lead over LawConnect.
LawConnect was forced to contend with a broken mainsheet and halyard overnight but managed to fix both issues and remain in pursuit of Comanche, which is skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo.
“We had a few things slow us down and Comanche’s obviously done quite well,” LawConnect skipper Christian Beck said on Saturday. “It’s mildly disappointing for us, but you win some, lose some. Everything’s good, we’re still in the hunt.”
With more than half the race completed, Hong Kong yacht SHK Scallywag 100 – skippered by David Witt and owned by tycoon Lee Seng Huang – was third, followed closely by the 88-foot Lucky, a New York Yacht Club entry skippered by Bryon Ehrhart.
The leading yachts were in Bass Strait, which separates the mainland from Tasmania. They were likely to finish at Constitution Dock in Hobart late on Sunday afternoon under current weather and wind projections – more than two days after the start and well outside the race record.