By 6am on Monday, 21 of the original 88 starters in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race had retired, leaving 67 boats battling reduced conditions after heavy southerlies battered the fleet on Sunday. The supermaxi Black Jack leads the race for line honours, ahead of rivals LawConnect and SHK Scallywag 100.
Among the retirements, Sydney boats Oz Design Patrice Six and Philosopher withdrew due to engine issues and internal damage respectively. Queensland's 39-foot yacht Huntress also retired, though the reason was not immediately clear. The TP52 Gweilo, a contender for overall honours, was among the casualties on Sunday.
In the overall standings, the 64-foot Sydney-based boat Khaleesi leads from the 34-foot White Bay 6 Azzurro. In the two-handed division, Tasmania's Sidewinder leads from Victoria's Maverick. The fleet continues towards Hobart, hoping for less taxing conditions ahead.
