Line Honours Update

December 28, 2008

WILD OATS XI, Bob Oatley and Mark Richards receive a Rolex timepiece from Richard de Leyser, Rolex Australia on their arrival in Hobart.At 09.34.14 AEDT Bob Oatley's, Reichel/Pugh designed, 30m (98-foot) supermaxi Wild Oats XI crossed the Hobart finish line at the end of the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart, to take line honours in the 64th edition of the 628 nautical-mile race. This is Wild Oats XI's fourth straight line honours victory.

Wild Oats XI completed the course in 1 day 20 hours, 34 minutes and fourteen seconds; just under two hours outside the course record she set in 2005.

At a dockside ceremony at Constitution Dock, Bob Oatley and skipper Mark Richards were presented with a Rolex Chronometer and the Illingworth Trophy for being first yacht across the finish line.

Second boat home was Grant Wharington's Don Jones designed, 30m (98-foot) Skandia, which held the lead over Wild Oats XI for much of yesterday and had threatened to steal the show.

The countdown clock is now running for the overall corrected-time victory, with Bob Steel's Quest currently lying in pole position according to the Yacht Tracker.

The 100-boat fleet that started the 64th Rolex Sydney Hobart has crews representing the USA, UK, New Zealand, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia and New Caledonia as well as every Australian state.

For more information about the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2008 including the entry list, yacht tracker and results please visit the event website at www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

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