Sydney to Hobart Breaking
A year after having victory snatched from its grasp, Wild Oats XI has pulled off a stunning line honours win in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race — but the second placegetter has accused the winners of switching off a locating system, rendering them invisible to opponents.
Today, Black Jack owner/skipper Peter Harburg told the ABC his team was “very disadvantaged because [Wild Oats XI] had their automatic identification system switched off and the rules say it’s got to be on all the time”.
“We didn’t know where they were, and they knew where we were all the time, so that has disadvantaged us and Comanche and we are very disappointed in that.”
Read on, courtesy of ABC News, Aus.
Text of the rule: Special Regulation 4.09 (a): An AIS Transponder shall be carried and be switched on, such that it is receiving and transmitting. – ed
