Navigators key as LOYAL hits lead

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THE strategists aboard the Sydney to Hobart leaders are set to earn their keep with potentially the closest race in years unfolding, as Perpetual LOYAL took up the running early this morning.

The supermaxi held a handy three nautical mile lead over nearest rival Giacomo, with race favourite and six-time line-honours winner Wild Oats XI a further four nautical miles astern.

The pre-race prediction of Perpetual LOYAL skipper and owner Anthony Bell that navigators would play an important part in the race appears spot on.

After an incident-filled start on Sydney Harbour, Wild Oats XI was hounded by a group of rivals as she sailed down the NSW south coast before surrendering her lead.

In a boost for Wild Oats XI, Bell and his team on Perpetual LOYAL revealed they had lowered their protest flag over an incident just after the start.

This means there is no protest against Wild Oats, which could impact on her race result.

"We've had a meeting and decided not to proceed with the protest,'' Bell said.

"At first we thought we had been fouled, but in a sense we had not.''

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The early leading pack included the four supermaxis Perpetual LOYAL, Wild Oats XI, Ragamuffin 100 and Wild Thing; new 80-foot boat Beau Geste and the Volvo 70s Giacomo and Black Jack.

But the news was not all good in the early afternoon, with the fleet reduced to 92 following the retirement of Audi Sunshine Coast (mast damage) and Dodo (torn mainsail).

The fleet was making slow work of the 628 nautical mile race because of headwinds but sailors were optimistic their journey south would speed up overnight when more favourable nor'easterlies hit the fleet.

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Skipper Eric Holden, aboard the clipper round the world race leader Henri Lloyd, reported that conditions at sea were pleasant after a hectic start.

"It was organised chaos as usual,'' said the Canadian who is skippering one of the 12 70-footers using the Sydney to Hobart as a leg of their round the world event.

"The conditions are fine and no one has any problems. We are chugging along quite nicely.''

The protest, retirements, and the thrilling early duel between Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL combined to make it the most eventful and exciting start of recent times.

Cloudy skies gave way to a spectacular and sunny start to the 69th edition of the race, with Wild Oats winning the honour of leading the fleet up Sydney Harbour and out to sea.

Rival supermaxi and race debutante Perpetual LOYAL looked to have the inside running on Wild Oats XI approaching the first mark.

Perpetual LOYAL seemed to hesitate, with some commentators suggesting she might have been confused over which marking buoy to round.

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Wild Oats XI, going for a record-equalling seventh line honours title, swept past the Sydney to Hobart rookie to be first to exit Sydney Harbour and turn south, followed by new 80-foot Hong Kong yacht Beau Geste and then Perpetual LOYAL.

Perpetual LOYAL raised a protest flag soon after, though the reason for it wasn't immediately clear.

The race fleet was quickly reduced by two with Audi Sunshine Coast and Dodo retiring.

Queensland 50-footer Audi Sunshine Coast was forced out inside the first 30 minutes with rig damage, completing an unfortunate double. It was also the first boat out of last month's Cabbage Tree Island Race.

"The code zero masthead fitting failed and the halyard tore down the side of the mast to the hounds fitting,'' owner and skipper Rod Jones said.

"I felt it wasn't prudent to continue.

"I feel subdued, very disappointed, but the world moves on.''

Sydney-based 52-footer Dodo had to pull out with mainsail damage.

The 2013 Sydney To Hobart start viewed from North Head. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

Fears of a rainy start to the race were allayed, as the sun broke through around an hour before the start and the fleet set sail in 15 to 18 knot southerly winds.

Supermaxi Ragamuffin 100 was right up there alongside Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL at the start.

The 1997 line-honours winner, maxi Brindabella, broke the start and had to turn back and go around again.

Thousands jumped aboard an array of vessels to be close to the action at the start, with the harbour foreshore crammed with spectators keen to farewell the fleet at the start of their annual trek south.

"It is just so exciting, I cannot wait," said Grace Kennedy, making her debut aboard Faceboat Sailors with disABILITIES.

Crowds gather to get a glimpse of the fleet as it makes its way out of Sydney Harbour. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

While Kennedy and the other sailors in the race will enjoy some fast downwind sailing tonight, they and other mid-sized yachts will be clobbered by a big front late Saturday night which comes with huge gusts and 4-5m seas.

While there have been reports of 12m seas they are unlikely to eventuate on the racecourse, with the fleet likely to tuck in close to the coastline to avoid the worst conditions as they sail towards the finish line on the Derwent River.

"I doubt if any of the boats will be seeing that where they are," top maritime weather specialist Roger "Clouds" Badham said.

Wild Oats XI surrounded by spectator fleet outside The Heads. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Limited

Wild Oats XI heads out into open water. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

Perpetual Loyal (left) and Beau Geste make their way out of Sydney Harbour. Source: AP

Wild Oats XI (left) leads Black Jack and Perpetual LOYAL out of The Heads. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

A yacht drags its spinnaker during the start of the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

The fleet heads out to sea as they begin their long journey south. Source: Getty Images

The crew onboard Wild Oats before the race start. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

Wild Thing, skippered by Grant Wharington, makes good time as she leaves The Heads. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

The crew onboard Black Jack ready themselves before the start of the trek south. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

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