Wild Oats X triumphs at One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Championship
by Greta Quealy / CYCA Media 10 Dec 01:12 PST
6-10 December 2024
Wild Oats X has claimed victory in the 2024 One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Championship © CYCA | Andrea Francolini
Tensions were high leading into the 2024 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, the closing race of the One Circular Quay Australian Maxi Championship (AMC).
Anthony Johnston’s URM Group entered the race with a slim one-point advantage over the Oatley family’s Wild Oats X. In a tie for third were Robert Appleyard’s Moneypenny and David Griffith’s Whisper.
In a hectic pre-start off Potts Point, most boats found themselves bunched together and unable to start. This led to a protest resulting in URM Group’s disqualification for violating sailing Rule 14 during the start: “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.”
This disqualification elevated Wild Oats X, helmed by Mark Richards, to first place overall for the 2024 AMC. URM Group dropped out of the podium spots, finishing in fifth. Whisper took second place, followed by Moneypenny from Western Australia in third.
Commenting on the protest, Richards stated: “That’s yachting. It’s something we’ve all faced in our careers. Today belonged to Wild Oats X.”
After the start, No Limit led the mini maxi category amidst southerly winds reaching 25 knots on the initial leg to Cannae Point, Manly. David Gotze’s yacht didn’t raise a kite and was soon surpassed by the rest of the fleet.
Moneypenny was the first mini maxi to round the mark, followed closely by Wild Oats X, with URM Group also making a comeback from the back. URM Group, captained by Marcus Ashley-Jones, continued to make headway and crossed the finish line behind the three 100-footers.
While the 100-foot boats contended for Line Honours, Whisper secured the top spot overall in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, with Wild Oats X taking second and Moneypenny in third.
This race served as the final practice ahead of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
