Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jnr could not hide the pain of seeing his dream of a "swansong" victory on the boat slip away in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
This year's race had added significance for Winning Jnr with his crew including his father John, sister Jamie, and close mates Peter and Nathan Dean, the sons of John Dean, one of six people to die in the 1998 Sydney Hobart who was also a friend of his father.
However, Winning Jnr had nothing but praise for Christian Beck and his crew for how they sailed Law Connect towards a sensational come-from-behind Line Honours victory today.
"I don't like coming second. I don't mind it sometimes, but certainly when you are the favourite it's pretty painful," said Winning Jnr from the boat at dockside in Hobart.
"We were the favourite because we've got an amazing boat that should have won the race.
"We've got an amazing crew. I know I beat myself up around not being able to deliver a win for those guys and my sister [Jamie] is included in that. But the other guys [on Law Connect] sailed their butts out. They sailed out of their skin. They left nothing on the table.
"We should have beaten them had we sailed as well as I know we can. I think our boat was definitely the better boat, as Christian sort of said in the past. I say that with a bigger compliment to them that they didn't just beat us, but they beat us with an underdog boat."
Andoo Comanche, the defending champion, went into the 628 nautical mile race organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) as the major favourite to cross the line first.
The 100-footer, that Winning Jnr was skippering for the last time in the race after chartering it for two years, looked set for back-to-back wins as it entered the Derwent River.
The two maxis had fought neck and neck for much of the race. Then, in the crossing of Storm Bay, Andoo Comanche moved away to a 2nm lead. But on the ever-tricky Derwent River, Law Connect fought back to catch them in the slight and fluky breeze.
In the last 1.5nm, the lead changed five times as the two maxis executed jibes to milk what wind there was. Law Connect managed to finally make the last move to win by 51 seconds.
In arguably the most exciting finish in years, Law Connect crossed the finish line in Hobart in first place at 08.03.58am and in the time of 1 day 19 hours 03 minutes 58 seconds.
2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Andoo Comanche skipper lauds Law Connect crew for victory
Sydney To Hobart Rolex 2023 Race Video
Sydney to Hobart yacht race: Andoo Comanche takes the day one lead with SHK Scallywag losing ground
Sydney To Hobart 2023 Rolex Race
Race favourite SHK Scallywag is one of the three first casualties of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after the vessel's bow sprit broke early Tuesday evening.
Skippered by David Witt, the SHK Scallywag from Hong Kong, had recently undergone modifications, added some well-known crew and appeared to be in great shape.
But without the bow sprit, continuing the race would prove impossible.
Andoo Comanche has taken the lead late on a dramatic opening day of the race, after a string of incidents including a protest and a penalty turn.
However with all crews pushing things to the edge, a protest flag came in from Andoo Comanche, claiming Scallywag had tacked too late, forcing them to take evasive action with their sail luffing, losing momentum.
Swearing could be heard on board Andoo Comanche as they shouted out their protest after the near miss.
Scallywag sailed clear in the lead and was first out of the Heads, but facing the possibility of a time penalty at the end of the race if Andoo Comanche's protest was upheld, skipper David Witt chose to execute a double penalty turn off Bondi. Scallywag lost ground due to the move.
Six years ago, Wild Oats XI chose to race on after a protest from Comanche, and the one-hour time penalty incurred at the end of the race ended its line honours hopes.
Later in the day, Andoo Comanche retook the lead, passing Law Connect with Scallywag in third.
The winds were not strong on the way down the coast and the race was a lot slower than last year, with the leaders reaching Wollongong after three and a half hours of racing, an hour later than last year's race.
Gallery Media Throughout The course of the race - Some great memories
Author - Alternative Sailing
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