Wild Oats XI leading the Sydney to Hobart race

What an interesting turn of events, while Comanche was clearly the faster yacht out of Sydney heads, it would appear the race dominated by tacticians and navigators has entered a new phase - raw boat speed isn't everything. The Sydney to Hobart is a bluewater event, there is plenty of opportunities for a yacht to run down an opposition given favourable conditions - Wild Oats XI did just that.

Both Wild Oats XI and Comanche have headed out to sea far off the rhumline searching for wind, it appears the faster Comanche may have sailed into light airs and Wild Oats XI has powered on stronger breeze. Comanche is not far off catching winds and given the superior boat speed of the new maxi, a tacking dual up the Derwent River is a real possibility - this could be a real cracker of a finish.