Yachts go bow-to-bow in the Sydney-to-Hobart race

Dec 28, 2011, 8:12 GMT

Sydney - Investec Loyal pipped fellow Australian Wild Oats XI in one of the closest-ever finishes in the 628-nautical-mile (1,160-kilometre) Sydney to Hobart yacht race Wednesday.

But victory over defending champion and five-time winner Wild Oats was thrown into doubt after a protest was lodged over Investec Loyal allegedly asking a helicopter crew to describe the sail the favourite was using.

Investec Loyal, runner-up last year, passed Wild Oats with only a few kilometres to go to the finish and held on to win by a margin of only 3 minutes and 8 seconds.

Wild Oats led out of Sydney and pulled away down the east coast until Investec Loyal took advantage of stronger breezes farther from the coast and overtook what had been the clear favourite.

Last year Wild Oats reached the Tasmanian state capital more than three hours ahead of the rest of the field to establish its dominance in what is recognized as one of the world's toughest tests of seamanship.

More than 1,000 sailors are in a fleet that numbered 88 at the start but has been winnowed to 76.

The Sydney-Hobart record is held by 30-metre Wild Oats - one day, 18 hours and 40 minutes - but that time was already beyond the reach of the race leaders after a day of racing in less-than-perfect conditions for fast sailing.

Investec Loyal finished in two days, 6 hours and 14 minutes.

Maluka, one of the smallest entrants, is under 10 metres and is expected to take more than five days for the journey.

The star attraction this year is Jessica Watson, the youngest skipper in the race and the youngest person to have sailed single-handed non-stop around the world.

The 18-year-old - that is the minimum age for entry - heads a crew of 10 fellow youngsters. Watson said she would finish well down the field.

'Sailing around the world is slow and steady, and (about) sticking it out hanging out by myself for 210 days,' she said before the start. 'Sailing fast is new to me.'