Race Update - December 26 8:30PM

Latest race for line honours news I have been able to track down:

Wild Oats XI leads fleet down NSW coast

Line Honours Contenders

Wild Oats XI

Wild Oats XI comfortable leader

Navigator of Wild Oats XI rates their start as "one of her best":
her best
Navigator Adrienne Cahalan rates Wild Oats XI's flying start to the Rolex Sydney Hobart as one of her best

Ragamuffin Loyal

Ragamuffin Loyal appeared to break the start line and race organisers are said to be reviewing whether a penalty will be applied to the yacht (I have heard conflicting news, one report said no penalty would be applied as organisers did not follow correct procedure for recalling a boat).

Overall (Handicap) Contenders

There has been, and will be little news on this until the first boats reach Hobart.  The names everyone expected to be up there are, so stay tuned!

Wild Thing Controvery

This news coverage from Channel 7 surprises me a little as it seems to be from prior to the race (sometime between 10am and 1pm) but the news article itself appears to be current to 6pm with a brief mention of the race leaders position:

Angry Wharington calls for Syd-Hob changes

I heard a discussion on ABC Grandstand this afternoon.  From what I recall of what was said the official line taken was that the boat's entry was not accepted, rather than disqualified.  Race organisers allegedly offered to allow the yacht to travel to Hobart with tracking, and participation in scheds, but not officially race as an entrant in the event.  A very ugly and unfortunate start to the race!

Other News

There are some really great photos surfacing from the start of the race:

Rolex Sydney Hobart 2012 - Offshore images from Alex McKinnon

Rolex Sydney Hobart 2012 - First pictures from Harbour start

The Australian - Sydney to Hobart Image Gallery

My Take

Ealy days yet!  Shame to have so much attention spent on such an unfortunate race decision made just hours prior to the start.  Wild Oats seems to be making good on my expections for them to lead, but they're not in front by that much so we'll just have to see, the cat and cat race is on for young (Wild Oats XI) and old here (Ragammufin Loyal).

I always find that there such a delay in news forthcoming from the start of the race!  Hopefully tomorrow once the yachts have had a chance to spread out overnight there may be a pick up in the volume of news coming out (yes, I know its boxing day and penalty rates for journos are rediculous today)! 

Still looking for decent reliable HF radio coverage.  Sail World have coverage but I was unable to hear the 7PM schedule so if you know of one, please post!  Sail World have a great article on why radio coverage is interesting to a geek like me here:

Rolex Sydney Hobart - Live Radio Traffic including Skeds

UPDATE: YouTube update just posted by Channel 7

 - Evan