A record number of international yachts leave Sydney Saturday for the annual Boxing Day Sydney to Hobart yacht race, dpa reported. The fleet of 108 vessels includes 27 international entries: China is in for the first time with two boats, a young crew from Germany on Haspa Hamburg, a sleek Italian boat called Maserati, supermaxis Comanche and Rambler 88 from the United States, and even a yacht from land-locked Switzerland. In its 70th year, the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has become a major international sporting event attracting multi-million dollar supermaxi ocean racing yachts competing to be first across the line and dozens of smaller yachts crewed by enthusiasts competing for handicap honours. The fastest race was in 2012 when Wild Oats XI finished the 1,610-kilometre race in 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds. This year Wild Oats XI is the defending champion having won last year, beating the American yacht Commanche by 50 minutes. Safety has been much improved since the disaster of 1998, when six people perished at sea, five boats sank, seven boats were abandoned and 56 crew were rescued when a massive, 36-hour storm whipped up waves 20 metres high and winds hit 80 knots (148 kilometres per hour). -- SPA 03:26 LOCAL TIME 00:26 GMT تغريد
