Wild Oats XI has won the 74th Sydney to Hobart yacht race, claiming line honours for the ninth time.
The Mark Richards-skipped supermaxi crossed the line in Hobart shortly after 8am on Friday after snatching the lead from defending line honours champion Comanche before sunrise.
The win comes after Wild Oats XI was stripped of line honours in last year's race, with a rule breach and time penalty handing victory to arch-rival Comanche.
Wild Oats XI has secured line honours in the Sydney to Hobart. Source: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Comanche is in second place with Black Jack and Infotrack closely behind.
The quartet spent Thursday duelling down Tasmania's east coast but Wild Oats XI took a more easterly route near Tasman Island to take the advantage overnight.
Lighter winds in the River Derwent were tipped to favour the smaller Black Jack but Wild Oats XI was able to gather enough speed to get home.
Wild Oats XI has won line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the ninth time. Source: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
This year's fleet was reduced to 80 yachts, with Calypso retiring due to steering issues late on Thursday night.
Last year's handicap winner Ichi Ban is leading the race for the same honour and aiming to become the first yacht to go back to back in 53 years.
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