American super-maxi Comanche took line honors in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Monday, staging an incredible comeback after damaging a rudder in rough seas and briefly retiring in what was the toughest competition in more than 10 years. Comanche crossed the finishing line in Hobart's Derwent River estuary ahead of compatriot Rambler 88, vindicating skipper Ken Read's decision to make running repairs in winds of up to 40 knots instead of withdrawing like rival and pre-race favorite Wild Oats XI. The victory will be a sweet moment for the crew of Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze-Clark's yacht. Comanche, designed to be the fastest monohull ever built, easily led the field early on but slipped behind Rambler 88 when it sustained damage in rough seas Saturday evening. After deciding to battle on, Comanche then staged a 13-hour chase to catch up with Rambler 88, before overtaking George David's yacht whose crew belatedly discovered their yacht had also sustained damage. A savage southerly blasted the boats off the New South Wales coast on the first night at sea Saturday, resulting in 32 of the 108 entries retiring from the grueling 628-nautical mile race down Australia's east coast. Among the casualties were two strong contenders for line honors — eight-time fastest finisher Wild Oats XI, forced back to Sydney after her mainsail ripped, and supermaxi Perpetual Loyal with rudder damage. Comanche hit an unidentified submerged object during the fierce conditions Saturday night which broke one of the 100-footer's twin rudders and a daggerboard. Of the 108 boats which started the race in Sydney Harbor Saturday, 32 have been forced out, including some with shredded sails or hull and steering damage and one with a broken mast. Sailors returning to Sydney Sunday spoke of the terrifying conditions, with winds of up to 40 knots. Julia Cooney, on board Brindabella, told The Australian newspaper that "nothing can prepare you for something like that." "It was like hitting a wall of water; hitting you in the face, sea water, rain water — you couldn't tell. "It was pitch black and the boat was crashing through the waves at 11 knots." Australian entry Ragamuffin 100 was revealed as the latest of the supermaxis to be damaged, with the port daggerboard completely sheared off in the race organized by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. — Agencies
