Sydney-Hobart Race: Hong Kong’s SHK Scallywag forced to retire after breaking bowsprit, team ‘very disappointed’
- Hong Kong-owned supermaxi was third having taken a penalty turn for tacking too close to race favourite Andoo Comanche
- Andoo Comanche, holder of the 2017 race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, is favourite for line honours
The Hong Kong-owned SHK Scallywag supermaxi has been forced to retire from the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race with a broken bowsprit just hours after it started.
With thunderstorms and hail threatening to lash crews making the 628-nautical-mile (1,200km) crossing to the Tasmanian capital, Scallywag had been among the favourites to challenge Andoo Comanche for line honours.
But despite making a strong start, Scallywag dropped back into third place after taking a penalty turn, organisers said. It had tacked close to Andoo Comanche as the yachts left Sydney harbour, prompting a protest by the race record holder.
Scallywag recovered from that, only to break a bowsprit, forcing them to retire soon after.
“The team are obviously very disappointed given the great progress we were making but thankful no one was injured and that we could safely recover the sails that were in the air at the time,” a statement on the team’s Instagram account said. “The team are currently making their way back to Sydney.”
More than 100 yachts set off on Tuesday, in one of the world’s most gruelling ocean events.
