Sailing: Wild Oats XI outfoxes LDV Comanche to win ninth Sydney to Hobart race

Wild Oats XI won it's ninth Sydney to Hobart line honours. Photo / ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

A week out from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, Wild Oats XI was struck by lightning and the crew were forced to scramble to borrow any equipment they could.

But that setback didn't hurt them in the long run, as the supermaxi flew home to win its ninth line honours title in a record time on one day eight hours 48 minutes and 50 seconds, 26 minutes ahead of LDV Comanche in second.

The crew was one of five, along with LDV Comanche, Black Jack, Infotrack and Beau Geste, who finished the race faster than the former fastest mark of one day 13 hours 31 minutes set by Perpetual LOYAL in 2016.

LDV Comanche skipper and owner Jim Cooney was worried a calm Derwent River would prove the supermaxi's undoing.

Unfortunately for him, his pre-race fear materialised.

The yacht dubbed the "aircraft carrier" held the lead for the majority of the Sydney to Hobart and was in prime position to add a second line honours to its 2015 success on Wednesday morning.

But its 20 nautical mile (37km) advantage was whittled away by a canny Wild Oats XI crew, who caught up as the frontrunners flew at speeds of up to 30 knots down Tasmania's east coast.

When both boats lobbed on the home stretch of the notoriously slow Derwent RIver at virtually the same time, Cooney knew he was in trouble.

The lighter Wild Oats XI picked up a breeze and finished 26 minutes ahead of LDV Comanche to claim line honours for the ninth time.