Shock protest against yacht on brink of historic Sydney Hobart victory
The two-person crewed yacht on the brink of winning the prestigious overall handicap prize in the Sydney to Hobart race is the subject of a protest by a rival, which could potentially deny it victory.
The yacht primed to win the overall category in this year's Sydney to Hobart is facing a potential penalty after a protest was lodged by the team currently in second place.
Double-handed yacht BNC, from New Caledonia, is the current favourite to secure the overall victory, with a handicap time of 4 days, 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Min River sails along Tasmania's east coast during this year's Sydney to Hobart race. (Supplied: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo)
Min River lodged a protest against BNC with race organisers, citing a breach to "sheeting sails" regulations in the Australian Racing Rules.
The rule the front-runner is accused of breaching states:
"No sail sheet be sheeted over or through any device that exerts outward pressure on a sheet or clew of a sail at a point from which, with the boat upright, a vertical line would fall outside the hull or deck [except in some conditions]."
In sailing, a sheet refers to a rope or cable used to control the movable corners, or clews, of a sail.
Min River, also a double-handed yacht, is currently in second place in the overall standings after finishing with a handicap time of 4 days, 1 hour and 56 minutes.
An overall victory for either BNC or Min River would be a significant moment, as a double-handed boat has never won the overall category in the Sydney to Hobart.
Double-handed yachts, boats manned by just two sailors, were only made eligible for the top prize from 2022.
An international jury will debate the protest at 9am on Wednesday at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart.
It is not clear what penalties, if any, BNC will face should it be found to have breached the regulations.
Unlike line honours, which is awarded to the first boat across the finish line, the overall winner takes into account a number of factors, such as boat size.
The victor is still not determined, as some yachts with large handicaps are still racing, although it is relatively unlikely for any of those vessels to overtake BNC's time.
Master Lock Comanche took out line honours as the boat first over the finish line, completing the course in 2 days, 5 hours, 3 minutes and 36 seconds.
The 100-footer crossed the finish line at 6:03:36pm on Sunday.
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