Secret Men's Business 3.5 wins Sydney to Hobart

30 December 2010 - 07H14

The Australian yacht and overall winner 'Secret Men's Business 3.5' as it was approaching Tasman Island in Tasmania on the final leg of the 66th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Mark Richards, skipper of the Australian supermaxi 'Wild Oats XI', co-navigator Adrienne Cahalan, and Patrick Boutellier, CEO of Rolex Australia, at the line honours prizegiving ceremony of the 66th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

AFP - Australian yacht Secret Men's Business 3.5 was named overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart ocean race on Thursday, taking handicap honours to claim the coveted Tattersall's Cup.

"It took me 22 years to win this race so I?m glad it?s finally happened -- I?m running out of runway," joked 64-year-old skipper Geoff Boettcher.

Current record-holder Wild Oats XI was first home Tuesday evening, completing the dash down Australia's southeast coast in two days, seven hours and 37 minutes to take its fifth line honours in six years.

But the overall winner is determined on a handicap system that takes into account a boat's size and what sailing conditions it faced during the race.

Officials Thursday gave Secret Men's Business 3.5 the overall title, with a handicap time of four days, one hour, 29 minutes and 40 seconds.

The 51-footer crossed the finish line on Wednesday afternoon, three days and 42 minutes after leaving Sydney, but had to wait and see whether two other yachts still at sea could record a better handicap. Both missed their deadlines early Thursday.

"It was spooky last night not being sure whether we?d won or not, there was a bit of anxiety. Today?s confirmation means I can comprehend it now," said Boettcher.

Crews battled strong headwinds and churning waves in the race's 66th edition, with Boettcher recounting 50-knot gales and seas so big "sometimes it was a challenge just getting on deck".

"We had to take our foot off the pedal a bit in Bass Strait, but we pushed the boat and crew to the limit; you have to if you want to win," he said.

Wild Oats had to fight a protest from officials alleging it had breached mandatory radio reporting conditions. An international jury ruled in skipper Mark Richards' favour, confirming his yacht as line honours winner.

The 628-nautical-mile race has a deadly history, with a wild storm killing six sailors and sinking five yachts in the horror 1998 edition.

Violent seas contributed to 18 yachts pulling out of the 2010 race -- including one with a broken mast -- reducing the number of boats expected to finish the race to 69, 30 of which were still at sea late Thursday.

The last boat on the standings, Wave Sweeper, is expected to arrive at Hobart around 1:00 pm (0200 GMT) Friday.