Amazing 2016 Sydney Hobart race record set by Perpetual Loyal
Perpetual Loyal smashes Wild Oats X1's race record by almost five hoursAnthony Bell's 100ft super maxi Perpetual Loyal has won the 2016 Sydney Hobart yacht race in the record time of 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds.
In so doing, Perpetual Loyal has smashed Wild Oats XI’s race record set in 2012 by four hours 51 minutes and 52 seconds.
Perpetual Loyal powered to the finish line, travelling at 20 knots as she cut a swathe through the spectator fleet at 02.31.20am on December 28, 2016.
Bell initially won line honours in 2011 with his first super maxi, Investec Loyal, when he sailed the 628 nautical mile race for the first time. In 2013, the Sydney accountant finished second to Wild Oats XI, but the last two years have been unkind.
In the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Loyal retired with hull damage after hitting an unknown object, then in 2015, another retirement, with rudder damage early on.
This time, no such worries. Bell left behind the celebrities of previous years, replacing them with a bunch of 'heavies', along with his regular crew.
As with last year, Perpetual Loyal was first out of Sydney Heads and this time she kept going, sailing steadily in Wild Oats XI’s shadow until the leader retired when the hydraulic ram failed.
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