down and out
Twins Louis and Marc Ryckman’s Accenture Yeah Baby are the second boat forced to retire from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart and are on their way back to Sydney, all the crew are reported safe and well.
Meanwhile Grant Wharrington’s Supermaxi yacht Wild Thing has become the third casualty of the Sydney to Hobart race today reducing the fleet down to 86.
Wild Thing took out line honours in 2003 and finished third in 2005 and 2006 and second in 2008.Wharington had taken a lot of weight out of the boat for this year’s race hoping for a change of luck from previous years. Wharrington and his 12 crew were south of Green Cape and running third behind leader Wild Oats XI and Investec LOYAL when Wharington made the decision to pull out.
Earlier, Pirelli Celestial was the first yacht to retire due to a broken gooseneck. For the majority of the fleet they are still working through rough sea swells and southerly winds off the NSW coast and with conditions starting to take it’s toll on the crew many who are suffering from Sea sickness, the forecast is still quite unpredictable giving the lead boats an opportunity to battle it out. – Nicole Scott
