Grant Wharington’s 100-footer Wild Thing 100 has become the first supermaxi to retire from the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, withdrawing in the early hours of Saturday morning after sustaining rigging damage during a demanding first night at sea.
The Queensland-based maxi was being sailed south by an experienced crew, including Wharington’s daughter Georgia, contesting her third Hobart. After approximately 17.5 hours of racing, the yacht was forced to turn back at around 6.30am on 27 December, just south of Batemans Bay, when the damage made it unsafe to continue with the fleet.
Wild Thing 100 remains at sea and is now heading back to Sydney, where repairs will be carried out.
The retirement follows pre-race comments from Wharington that the forecast conditions were unlikely to suit his highly modified 100-footer. While still hopeful of a strong run, he had acknowledged before the Boxing Day start that the race could become an exercise in survival rather than outright performance, with Hobart’s celebrations already firmly in mind.
Despite a rugged opening night, the broader fleet has largely held together, making Wild Thing 100’s withdrawal a notable early casualty at the sharp end of the line-honours contest.
A significant blow to a proven campaign
The retirement is a major setback for Wharington, contesting his 30th Sydney Hobart, and co-owner Adrian Seiffert, who was not onboard for this race. The yacht’s recently installed rig was intended to better control the boat’s power and keep her competitive against the latest generation of maxis.
Before the new rig was fitted, Wild Thing delivered standout performances in 2024, taking line honours in both the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race and the inaugural Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race, setting a new course record in the latter. Those results highlighted the boat’s pace when conditions allowed.
Wild Thing has an extensive Hobart history, competing five times as an 80-footer, including the 2022 race as Stefan Racing, and earlier campaigns as Beau Geste, before returning in her current 100-foot configuration.
Leaders press on in lighter-than-forecast conditions
At the time of Wild Thing 100’s retirement, the leading supermaxis remained closely grouped along the coast. Master Lock Comanche, skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo, was positioned around 8 nautical miles north of Green Cape, leading LawConnect, with SHK Scallywag 100 next in line, followed by Lucky and Palm Beach XI. All six yachts were sailing the coastal route inside the rhumb line.
Speaking from LawConnect at 6.15am, skipper Christian Beck reported the margin at the front remained tight.
“We’re one and a half miles behind Comanche and Scallywag is five miles behind us,” Beck said.
Beck confirmed his team had dealt with a difficult night onboard.
“We had problems last night. We broke the mainsheet and that took a while to fix. Then we broke the halyard. The J1 came down twice. It’s mildly disappointing. If we didn’t have these issues, all would be fine. Everything’s good, though.”
He added that conditions were lighter than forecast.
“Last night was pretty rough. I’ve been in worse in past years, but it was a long night, pretty rough and cold.”
With onboard instruments offline, LawConnect was relying on experience.
“Nicko says we’re in a 10–12 knot southerly that’s gone more south-southwest. We’re still in the hunt. It’s going to get windier later today, so we’ll try to catch Comanche then.”
Attrition builds, fleet largely intact
Wild Thing 100’s retirement was followed shortly after by further withdrawals. At around 5.30am, Awen, skippered by David Hows, retired with forestay damage. Trouble & Strife also withdrew due to engine problems. All three yachts are returning to Sydney.
In total, six boats have now retired, leaving 122 still racing south toward Hobart.
Further down the fleet, conditions remained challenging but manageable. Pretty Woman, skippered by Richard Hudson, settled into the rhythm of the race after a bumpy night.
“It was bumpy all night. The most breeze we saw was 25 knots with gusts. It’s not been as strong as they said it would be,” Hudson said.
“We had a solid swell, coming in sets. It’s been upwind the whole time, but we’re battling on. The wind’s in the late teens now from the south. A couple have been seasick, but the boat’s in good shape.”
As the fleet continues south, Wild Thing 100’s absence leaves a clear mark on the supermaxi contest, while the remainder of the fleet presses on through a race that is already demanding both resilience and reliability.
