2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Wild Thing 100 overcomes breakage to claim third over the line
by Steve Dettre / RSHYR media 27 Dec 2024 23:12 UTC
27 December 2024
Wild Thing 100 nears the finish line in River Derwent © Salty Dingo
Wild Thing 100 battled a litany of damaged equipment to claim third over the line in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race early Saturday.
The Grant Wharington owned maxi broke four battens from the top of his mainsail in one of the gybes, he said.
“The whole thing collapsed, so the top of the mainsail was flapping around for the rest of the race,” Wharington said.
“But we just wanted to finish the race and get here to Hobart, so we just kept sailing.”
Wharington said they also broke the starboard steering wheel, but crossed the finish line at 0537hrs.
“We had our port steering wheel only halfway way across the Strait yesterday. The starboard one completely fell out, so that was a bit tricky,” he said. “We had to steer down to leeward for a long time.”
‘Wharo’ said it had been a demanding race.
“It's always hard somewhere during the race. I think the downwind thing was really, really difficult, but we’ve been in harder Hobarts.”
Wharington took Line Honours in Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race 20 years ago with his former yacht Skandia.
Wild Thing 100 made its debut as a 100 footer in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Formerly an 80 footer, she retained her old rig and Wharington sailed her to sixth across the line in 2023.
He said it was often a fine line between finishing or being forced to retire.
“There's always a lot of things that can go wrong in a race like this. It could have been us. With our mainsail damage, we did think about pulling out because it really does slow you down a lot.
“But you know, like we always just want to get to Hobart.
“We've got here in a few tricky situations in the past, we've broken the mast and a few things and still finished the race.
“It's more than the race. It's actually about the event and getting here and enjoying the hospitality that the locals put on for us. We always want to get here no matter what.”