Mark Richards, the skipper of the supermaxi Wild Oats XI in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race, was despondent but not depressed late today after a tactical change of course was impacted by an unexpected change in wind direction, which in turn led to the yacht losing distance on its three line honours rivals. “It is still anyone’s race as there are more than 250 nautical miles to go, “ Richards said. “But it is very much a guessing game when it comes to trying to decipher what is going to happen in these light conditions over the next 12 to 24 hours. There is every chance that the race for being first to Hobart will go down to…

Mark Richards, the skipper of line honours contender, Wild Oats XI, in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which starts tomorrow, is expecting this year’s race to be as much a tough test of tactics as boat speed.

Wild Oats XI, the most successful yacht in the long history of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, will start in the classic on Boxing Day with the most efficient sail plan it has carried since first competing in the event in 2005.