An owner's eager wife, a rival's absence and some on-the-run repair work revived the hopes of damaged boat Comanche, which went on to take line honours in the Sydney to Hobart.
Chief designer Xavier Guilbaud revealed details of the day-one disaster that initially prompted the 100-footer to turn back to Sydney.
"They hit something and the port dagger board split in two and came off and as it passed by the rudder it took part of the rudder which affected the steering system," Guilbaud told AAP in Hobart before the yacht crossed the finish line just before 10pm (AEDT) on Monday.
The supermaxi had a lead of 12 nautical miles over nearest challenger Rambler on Saturday night when the damage was done, which she sacrificed as the sails were dropped in preparation to turn back to Sydney, assuming her race was run.
It was then that sailing master Casey Smith turned repairman.
"They managed to fix the steering system," said Guilbaud, who was consulted throughout the repairs.
"Everything broken was on the port side so steering on starboard was not good.
"But I think they've managed to do as much port tacking as possible."
There were no safety issues and the boat's ongoing speed was not impeded, so the decision was taken to keep racing, the France-based designer said.
The influence of model Kristy Hinze-Clark - the Australian wife of owner Jim Clark - likely played a part in the decision to keep racing too.
After stepping off the boat in Hobart, co-owner Hinze-Clark said the race was "one of the best things I've ever done".
The earlier retirement of defending champion Wild Oats XI, which in 2014 beat Comanche on her Sydney to Hobart debut, could have also encouraged the team to push on.
Although when talking to reporters after the race Clark played dumb about the Wild Oats XI rivalry.
"Where is Wild Oats anyway?" the billionaire businessman laughed.
