The crew of stricken Sydney to Hobart entry Perpetual LOYAL believe the supermaxi may have hit something, causing hull damage and forcing a shock retirement.
Skipper Anthony Bell made the call to withdraw from the race about 8am (AEDT) Saturday after the boat started taking on water while off Eden on the NSW far south coast.
"The crew believes the yacht may have hit something at about 9pm (AEDT, Friday)," race organisers said in a statement.
"The hull started delaminating and the yacht took on water in the bow."
For most of the night and early hours of the morning, Perpetual LOYAL was locked in a battle for third spot with rival supermaxi, Ragamuffin 100.
The boat, which included surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, boxer Danny Green and Olympic sailor Tom Slingsby among her crew, is returning to her home club at Sydney's Rose Bay.
Perpetual LOYAL's withdrawal is the eighth retirement of the race, reducing the initial fleet of 117 to 109.
Speaking from the boat later on Saturday Slingsby confirmed the problem is with Perpetual LOYAL's bow.
"We're not exactly sure how it happened," he said.
"We were coming off some big waves but we also could have hit something during the night when we were falling off these waves."
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