Rolex Sydney Hobart - Loyal takes lead from Wild Oats XI

8:54 AM Tue 27 Dec 2011 GMT

'INVESTEC LOYAL exits Sydney Hobart - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2011' &copy Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

Rolex Sydney Hobart 2011.

In the last few minutes Investec Loyal has taken the lead from Wild Oats XI. Wider on the course, away from the east coast of Tasmania in stronger wind Investec Loyal has snatched the lead from the five times Sydney to Hobart line honours winner.

Earlier this afternoon Wild Oats XI's navigator Ian 'Fresh' Burns talked about the lurking Investec Loyal, likely to keep Wild Oats XI honest as the two race leaders approached the Tasmanian coast.

Burns was anticipating a very tough night, with the big patches of nil or light breeze and the threat has already come to pass, as Loyal in strong conditions has rapidly closed the gap between the two boats.

'We expect Staney Honey and Michael Coxon on Loyal plotting and scheming to sail around us, if we stop. In very light winds, under five knots the boat can stop, its very hard to get going again.

'They had 23 miles of leverage, let alone a 10 mile hole. It has become a chess game, as it often does at this stage of the race.'

Between Wild Oats XI and the northerly breeze there is 60 miles of light pressure.

Listen to 'Fresh' as he explains what might happen (and it its happening right now).

Wild Oats XI has sailed into light winds while Loyal, further to the east, has powered forward sailing six knots faster at last comparison. The lead has now changed and Investec Loyal is leading but only just. The two boats are almost abreast of each other with just 0.6 nautical miles between them.

Betchoice.com Lahana is third.

Its game on!!


Standings At racetime 01:07:10 - 27 December 2011, 8:10pm

								EST. ELAPSED
	YACHT NAME	LAT	LONG	DTG	SOG	COG		TIME &amp; SPEED

LINE HONOURS Overall

1	Investec Loyal	40? 08' S	150? 30' E	258.0	13.3	205		02:03:50:56	12.1
	Anthony Bell (2) NSW	100nm E of Flinders Island					28 Dec, 4:50pm

2	Wild Oats XI	39? 59' S	150? 23' E	263.2	5.1	255		02:10:49:35	10.7
	Mark Richards (9) NSW	94nm E of Flinders Island					28 Dec, 11:49pm

3	Lahana	39? 28' S	150? 31' E	293.8	9.6	183		02:10:25:15	10.8
	Peter Millard (2) NSW	118nm S of Gabo Island					28 Dec, 11:25pm


4	Hugo Boss	39? 10' S	151? 12' E	324.4	11.1	200		02:16:53:10	9.7
	Alex Thomson (2) UK	113nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 5:53am

5	Loki	38? 59' S	150? 52' E	326.9	11.0	174		02:17:17:46	9.6
	Stephen Ainsworth (12) NSW	96nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 6:17am

6	Living Doll	38? 26' S	150? 48' E	355.8	11.6	167		02:21:26:28	9.0
	Michael Hiatt (6) VIC	67nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 10:26am


7	Ichi Ban	38? 17' S	150? 25' E	357.3	12.8	159		02:19:50:26	9.3
	Matt Allen (22) NSW	49nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 8:50am

8	Brindabella	38? 15' S	150? 35' E	362.2	13.1	154		02:23:51:52	8.7
	Jim Cooney (1) NSW	52nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 12:51pm

9	Jazz	38? 12' S	150? 35' E	364.8	12.4	158		03:01:14:06	8.6
	Chris Bull (4) NSW	50nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 2:14pm


10	Ragamuffin	38? 02' S	150? 34' E	374.0	11.9	155		03:06:34:18	8.0
	Syd Fischer (42) NSW	42nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 7:34pm

11	Shogun	37? 59' S	150? 24' E	374.2	11.7	157		03:04:42:14	8.2
	Rob Hanna (5) VIC	34nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 5:42pm

12	Calm	37? 55' S	150? 09' E	374.6				03:06:37:42	8.0
	Jason Van der Slot (6) VIC	23nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 7:37pm


13	Pretty Fly III	37? 46' S	150? 23' E	386.2	10.2	160		03:12:03:40	7.5
	Colin Woods (5) NSW	25nm SE of Gabo Island					30 Dec, 1:03am

14	Scarlet Runner	37? 45' S	150? 23' E	387.3	11.3	149		03:09:35:19	7.7
	Robert Date (3) VIC	25nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 10:35pm

15	Cougar II	37? 43' S	150? 21' E	388.6	10.4	157		03:10:51:52	7.6
	Anthony Lyall (10) TAS	23nm SE of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 11:51pm


16	Southern Excellence	37? 40' S	150? 25' E	392.4	10.8	155		03:08:56:59	7.8
	Andrew Wenham (5) NSW	24nm E of Gabo Island					29 Dec, 9:56pm

17	Merit	37? 34' S	150? 25' E	398.0	10.9	146		03:17:30:13	7.0
	Leo Rodriguez (3) QLD	26nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 6:30am

18	Vamp	37? 30' S	150? 17' E	400.1	9.7	156		03:13:29:03	7.3
	Peter Wrigley NSW	18nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 2:29am


19	Knee Deep	37? 28' S	150? 16' E	401.7	9.4	155		03:15:54:20	7.1
	Philip Childs (4) WA	16nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 4:54am

20	Victoire	37? 23' S	150? 12' E	406.4	9.2	157		03:19:53:29	6.8
	Darryl Hodgkinson (1) NSW	10nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 8:53am

21	AFR Midnight Rambler	37? 22' S	150? 09' E	406.5	7.7	151		03:22:57:29	6.6
	Ed Psaltis (30) NSW	8nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:57am


22	Strewth	37? 25' S	150? 26' E	407.3	9.8	158		03:23:43:40	6.6
	Geoff Hill (14) Hong Kong	21nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 12:43pm

23	Optimus Prime	37? 20' S	150? 08' E	407.9	7.4	150		03:20:37:58	6.8
	Trevor Taylor (3) WA	6nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:37am

24	St Jude	37? 18' S	150? 07' E	409.5	7.2	150		03:20:11:39	6.8
	Noel Cornish (4) NSW	4nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:11am


25	Balance	37? 18' S	150? 08' E	409.9	7.7	150		03:19:47:34	6.8
	Paul Clitheroe (4) NSW	5nm SE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 8:47am

26	Chutzpah	37? 16' S	150? 05' E	411.5	7.0	146		04:01:47:09	6.4
	Bruce Taylor (30) VIC	1nm E of Green Cape					30 Dec, 2:47pm

27	ColorTile	37? 11' S	150? 02' E	415.4	6.5	147		03:23:24:58	6.6
	Warren Buchan (1) NSW	5nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 12:24pm


28	Last Tango	37? 12' S	150? 05' E	415.7	7.4	149		04:00:43:47	6.5
	Phillip King (14) NSW	5nm NE of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:43pm

29	NSC Mahligai	37? 11' S	150? 02' E	415.8	5.9	157		03:23:23:56	6.6
	Murray Owen (5) NSW	5nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 12:23pm

30	Minerva	37? 09' S	150? 04' E	417.6	7.0	145		03:20:58:51	6.8
	Edward Cox (1) NSW	6nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:58am


31	Lunchtime Legend	37? 09' S	150? 02' E	417.9	7.4	142		03:18:22:43	7.0
	Robbo Robertson (10) QLD	7nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 7:22am

32	The Goat	37? 07' S	150? 01' E	419.4	7.1	138		04:00:36:38	6.5
	Bruce Foye (11) NSW	9nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:36pm

33	Patrice Six	37? 07' S	150? 01' E	419.7	5.8	190		03:23:24:38	6.6
	Tony Kirby (27) NSW	9nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 12:24pm


34	Outrageous Fortune	37? 07' S	150? 00' E	419.7	5.9	195		03:22:32:48	6.6
	Quintin Fowler New Zealand	9nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:32am

35	Two True	37? 06' S	150? 01' E	420.5	6.8	142		03:22:48:47	6.6
	Andrew Saies (6) SA	10nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:48am

36	Mondo	37? 03' S	149? 54' E	421.8				03:14:52:03	7.2
	Ray Sweeney (2) QLD	14nm NW of Green Cape					30 Dec, 3:52am


37	Wild Rose	37? 04' S	150? 01' E	422.1	7.3	137		03:21:58:29	6.7
	R Hickman (34) NSW	12nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 10:58am

38	Wasabi	37? 03' S	150? 01' E	422.9	7.6	136		03:20:58:02	6.8
	Bruce McKay (2) NSW	13nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:58am

39	TSA Management	37? 03' S	150? 00' E	423.1	6.0	144		03:23:16:39	6.6
	Tony Levett (6) NSW	13nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 12:16pm


40	Ocean Affinity	37? 04' S	150? 04' E	423.2	8.8	219		04:01:54:52	6.4
	Stewart Lewis (6) QLD	12nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 2:54pm

41	L'ange De Milon	37? 02' S	150? 00' E	423.9	7.7	218		03:21:07:47	6.7
	Jacques Pelletier (1) France	14nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 10:07am

42	Dump Truck	37? 02' S	150? 00' E	423.9	7.1	142		04:01:09:42	6.5
	Justin Wells (4) TAS	14nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 2:09pm


43	Papillon	37? 02' S	149? 59' E	424.0	6.5	161		03:22:44:09	6.6
	Phil Molony (21) NSW	14nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:44am

44	Dodo	37? 01' S	149? 58' E	424.2	8.0	236		04:00:15:00	6.5
	Adrian Dunphy (9) NSW	15nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:15pm

45	Cadibarra 8	37? 01' S	150? 00' E	424.7	8.2	147		03:18:37:53	6.9
	Paul Roberts (8) VIC	15nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 7:37am


46	Quetzalcoatl	37? 00' S	149? 59' E	425.8	8.5	230		04:00:00:55	6.5
	Antony Sweetapple (8) NSW	16nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:00pm

47	Carina	36? 59' S	149? 59' E	426.4	7.8	215		03:20:34:21	6.8
	Rives Potts USA	17nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:34am

48	Deloitte As One	36? 59' S	149? 58' E	426.7	6.1	210		03:22:08:16	6.7
	Chris Lewin (4) NSW	17nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:08am


49	Ella Bache	36? 59' S	150? 03' E	427.6	7.5	133		04:00:13:04	6.5
	Jessica Watson NSW	17nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:13pm

50	The Banshee	36? 58' S	150? 01' E	428.0	6.6	131		03:22:17:01	6.7
	Corinne Feldmann (1) &amp; Rob Francis (4) NSW	18nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:17am

51	Jazz Player	36? 58' S	150? 00' E	428.1	5.5	160		03:20:51:23	6.8
	Andrew Lawrence (2) VIC	18nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:51am


52	Menace	36? 56' S	149? 57' E	429.4	4.9	205		03:19:54:59	6.8
	Niven James (1) NSW	20nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 8:54am

53	LMR Solar	36? 55' S	149? 56' E	429.8	7.0	232		04:00:13:46	6.5
	Michael Martin (3) NSW	21nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:13pm

54	Martela	36? 55' S	149? 57' E	430.6	5.3	201		04:00:36:58	6.5
	Anthony Williams (4) TAS	22nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 1:36pm


55	Kiss Goodbye to MS	36? 53' S	150? 03' E	433.2	6.9	128		04:01:32:48	6.4
	Tony Warren (3) VIC	23nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 2:32pm

56	Icefire	36? 54' S	150? 11' E	433.9	6.8	133		04:07:04:49	6.1
	Peter Tucker NSW	23nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 8:04pm

57	Whistler	36? 51' S	150? 01' E	434.7	7.9	208		03:22:28:49	6.7
	David Rees (14) TAS	25nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 11:28am


58	Sweethart	36? 50' S	150? 00' E	435.3	7.9	206		03:20:18:15	6.8
	Laurence Pidgeon (4) QLD	25nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:18am

59	Elektra	36? 50' S	149? 59' E	435.9	8.3	211		04:03:19:38	6.3
	Peter Gregory NSW	26nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 4:19pm

60	One For The Road	36? 49' S	150? 00' E	436.6	7.5	203		03:20:17:29	6.8
	Kym Butler (3) NSW	27nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 9:17am


61	Patrice IV	36? 48' S	150? 00' E	437.4	8.3	206		04:02:40:29	6.4
	Shane Wiseman SA	28nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 3:40pm

62	Copernicus	36? 47' S	150? 04' E	439.1	7.9	213		04:01:03:36	6.5
	Greg Zyner (4) NSW	28nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 2:03pm

63	Wave Sweeper	36? 47' S	150? 04' E	439.4	7.3	206		04:04:22:43	6.3
	Andrey Arbuzov (1) NSW	29nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 5:22pm


64	Mille Sabords	36? 46' S	150? 05' E	440.5	6.9	206		04:06:53:55	6.1
	Stephane Howarth (1) VIC	30nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 7:53pm

65	Shepherd Centre	36? 45' S	150? 06' E	441.4	7.1	211		04:02:57:07	6.3
	Hugh Torode (3) NSW	30nm N of Green Cape					30 Dec, 3:57pm

66	Alchemy III	36? 41' S	150? 02' E	444.8	5.4	201		04:10:05:14	5.9
	Jarrod Ritchie (1) TAS	27nm S of Montague Island					30 Dec, 11:05pm


67	Flying Fish Arctos	36? 40' S	150? 04' E	446.6	7.6	211		04:05:35:52	6.2
	John Naylor (30) &amp; Duncan Macalister (1) NSW	25nm S of Montague Island					30 Dec, 6:35pm

68	Bacardi	36? 41' S	150? 17' E	447.3	6.9	211		04:04:26:29	6.3
	Martin Power (9) VIC	26nm S of Montague Island					30 Dec, 5:26pm

69	Chancellor	36? 40' S	150? 09' E	447.3	3.3	215		04:16:04:44	5.6
	Ted Tooher (6) NSW	25nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 5:04am


70	Samurai Jack	36? 40' S	150? 15' E	447.9	6.2	130		04:13:08:36	5.8
	Michael Lazzarini (1) QLD	25nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 2:08am

71	Willyama	36? 41' S	150? 21' E	448.5	7.5	217		04:12:55:55	5.8
	Richard Barron (10) NSW	27nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 1:55am

72	Aurora	36? 37' S	150? 12' E	450.1	7.8	212		04:19:17:38	5.4
	Jim Holley (23) NSW	22nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 8:17am


73	Nutcracker	36? 36' S	150? 11' E	451.3	6.3	204		04:13:49:09	5.7
	Robert Davis / David Clancy VIC	21nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 2:49am

74	Kioni	36? 32' S	150? 08' E	454.3	8.8	214		04:15:43:39	5.6
	Rowan McColl (5) NSW	18nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 4:43am

75	Fullynpushing	36? 32' S	150? 12' E	455.2	6.6	118		04:14:14:29	5.7
	Andrew Griffiths VIC	17nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 3:14am


76	Natelle Two	36? 21' S	150? 13' E	466.2	7.4	208		04:20:40:16	5.4
	Laura Roper TAS	6nm S of Montague Island					31 Dec, 9:40am

77	Not Negotiable	36? 19' S	150? 11' E	467.9	5.8	113		05:04:30:41	5.0
	John Rayner TAS	4nm SW of Montague Island					31 Dec, 5:30pm

78	She	36? 21' S	150? 27' E	468.5	6.0	215		04:17:47:09	5.5
	Peter Rodgers (16) NSW	12nm SE of Montague Island					31 Dec, 6:47am


79	Nemesis	36? 14' S	150? 28' E	475.4	5.9	118		05:14:22:06	4.7
	Jeffery Taylor (1) USA	11nm E of Montague Island					1 Jan, 3:22am

80	Maluka Of Kermandie	36? 05' S	150? 09' E	480.8	3.8	208		05:11:36:55	4.8
	Peter Langman NSW	10nm N of Montague Island					1 Jan, 12:36am

81	Eressea	36? 06' S	150? 27' E	483.2	6.9	221		06:18:27:20	3.9
	John Bankart (4) QLD	14nm NE of Montague Island					2 Jan, 7:27am


	Accenture Yeah Baby *	Retired - at Sea
	Marc Ryckmans (5) NSW

	Alacrity *	Retired - at Sea
	Chris Percy QLD

	Celestial *	Retired - at Port
	Sam Haynes (1) NSW


	Duende *	Retired - at Sea
	Damien Parkes (24) NSW

	Ffreefire 52 *	Retired - at Sea
	Anthony Day Hong Kong

	Illusion *	Retired - at Sea
	Christopher Bowling (17) NSW


	Wild Thing *	Retired - at Sea
	Grant Wharington (23) QLD