Sydney to Hobart race: Master Lock Comanche, LawConnect in front as battle gets under way
LawConnect, which won line honours last year, was first past the turning mark in Australia’s premier yachting event but ran into sail issues
Favourites Master Lock Comanche and LawConnect took the early lead in the 79th running of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Thursday, as the supermaxis led the 104 boats out into the South Pacific.
LawConnect, which won line honours last year in a thrilling finish by just 51 seconds, was first past the turning mark after cannons sounded at 1pm (0200 GMT).
However, it soon ran into some sail issues, giving race-record holder Master Lock Comanche an unexpected advantage.
Wild Thing 100, another supermaxi, almost capsized after making a late tack to avoid the smaller Celestial V70.
Covering about 630 nautical miles of the Tasman Sea and notoriously treacherous Bass Strait, the gruelling annual race is Australia’s premier yachting event.
A large spectator fleet gathered outside the exclusion zone on Sydney Harbour to take in the start of the race and bask in the pristine Southern Hemisphere summer conditions.
