Six-times Sydney to Hobart line honours winner Wild Oats XI will have her mast re-stepped on Thursday, following major repairs after it suffered a catastrophic failure.
The supermaxi's new mast almost broke during preliminary trials two weeks ago, when it was 20 nautical miles off Sydney.
Quick reactions from the crew at the time prevented the 45-metre carbon mast from breaking in two and going over the side.
"It's a miracle the mast didn't break," Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said.
"One minute we were sailing along perfectly normally, then there was an almighty bang as the section fractured."
Repair plans were formulated almost immediately as representatives from the New Zealand-based mast manufacturer were aboard Wild Oats XI at the time.
A large crane will lift the mast back into place at Sydney's Woolwich Dock, following ten days of intense repair work.
"Everyone is confident the repaired section is stronger and more than capable of accommodating the compression loads the boom exerts on the mast," Richards said.
"Our big challenge now is to make up for the training time we have lost in preparation for the Sydney Hobart race."
The yacht will go into full race mode this weekend so the required 24-hour qualifying run for the Hobart race can be completed.
Wild Oats XI will have her first race against rival supermaxi Perpetual Loyal in the annual Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour next Tuesday.
