Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024
Wild Thing 100
/media/3446798/wild-thing-100-aus100.jpg "wild thing 100 yacht")
Wild Thing 100 will be the newest 100 ft maxi to be launched when it makes its debut in this year’s race. Owner Grant Wharrington has extended Stefan Racing, a Botin 80, which he sailed to fourth over the line in 2021 and 6th last year. Under the extension, the yacht has been rebranded as Wild Thing 100. Wharrington took Line Honours in 2003 with his previous Wild Thing, but the following year, whilst leading the fleet to Hobart, she lost her canting keel and capsized in Bass Strait.
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Competitor Details
| Yacht Name | Wild Thing 100 |
| Sail Number | AUS100 |
| Owner | Grant Wharington |
| Skipper | Grant Wharington (29) |
| Sailing Master | Greg Torpy (13) |
| Navigator | David Turton (11) |
| Crew | Adrian Seiffert (4), Alexander Watson (1), Brian Donovan (11), Carl Crafoord (36), Curtis Skinner (11), Georgia Wharington, Lisa Seiffert (1), Mark Bothwell, Matthew Pearce (22), Michael Kennady, Oliver Wharington (2), Patrick Lambourne, Paul Wyatt (3), Peter Cosman (18), Rhyce Layton (2), Rodney Kennan (18), Theodore Somssich (1), Todd Anderson (7) |
| State | QLD |
| Club | CYCA |
| Type | Maxi |
| LOA | 30.5 |
| Beam | 6.2 |
| Draft | 5.5 |
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race | Official Spectator Vessel The Jackson
For an unmatched view of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, there’s only one place to be – aboard The Jackson , the official and only public spectator vessel permitted inside the race’s Exclusion Zone.
This luxurious superyacht will offer guests a unique, up-close experience at the start of one of the world’s most iconic ocean races.
Wild Thing 100's Grant Wharington at the helm | Credit: ROLEX/Andrea Francolini
Wild Thing 100 working its way through the waves | Credit: ROLEX/Andrea Francolini
Wharington’s extraordinary effort to start and finish Rolex Sydney Hobart
They said it couldn’t be done and that just drove Grant Wharington to prove the doubters wrong when he built the new 100 foot Wild Thing 100 in five months and made both the start and finish lines of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Wharington and crew, including son, Oli, on his third Sydney Hobart and 21-year-old daughter Georgia, doing her first, were as thrilled as everyone else when he moored at the King Street Pier late today after crossing the finish line at 06:09:06pm.
Wild Thing 100 finished just short of an hour behind Sean Langman’s Moneypenny which had been in a battle royale with URM Group and Alive for the overall win. The pair were fifth and sixth boats to finish the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race.
Wharington said, “We wouldn’t have gone to the start line if we thought we would not have made the finish line. That would be foolhardy.”
Wharington could not heap enough praise on his build team of Theo (Somssich) and Paddy (Lambourne). “They worked hard to get the boat done, even working on Christmas Day. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“We have fantastic people who are dedicated. This morning I saw a few friends had retired; Witty with Scallywag, Spiesy on Maritimo, so I was grateful we finished. Grateful.
“We knew we couldn’t win, but we are here with our heads held high. We are still starting at the bottom and I know we will get better from here.”
Wharington said having his kids involved in the race “has given me a new enthusiasm for the sport. I like designing and building, so to do this also with the new boat also gave me enthusiasm.”
Earlier, Sean Langman’s chances of winning the race evaporated when he decided to take a ‘short cut’, the most direct route to the finish. Moneypenny, a Reichel/Pugh 69, is currently placed third overall, a great result, but not what Langman was looking for.
The next boats due to finish are David Gotze’s No Limit and the first of the TP52s, Sebastien Bohm’s Smuggler, the Max Klink skippered Caro and Sam Haynes’ 2022 winner, Celestial. The four boats are not due till tomorrow from 9.30am.
In other news, more retirements today. Bacardi, Allegresse and Cyan Moon. Bacardi, which contested its 30th Sydney Hobart, the most by any boat, suffered damage, the New Zealand crew of two-handed entry Allegresse pulled out with fatigue, while Cyan Moon had rig damage.
Written by Di Pearson/RSHYR Media
Internationally, the race will be available through YouTube on CYCATV or on Facebook Rolex Sydney Hobart page . For the full list of entries and more information about the race, visit rolexsydneyhobart.com .
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Wharington's extraordinary effort to start and finish Rolex Sydney Hobart
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Wild Thing 100. Wild Thing 100 will be the newest 100 ft maxi to be launched when it makes its debut in this year’s race. Owner Grant Wharrington has extended Stefan Racing, a Botin 80, which he sailed to fourth over the line in 2021 and 6th last year.
Wild Thing Yachting. 4,895 likes · 17 talking about this. Wild Thing 100 is the newest 100' Australian super maxi.
Entries into Australia's newest ocean race, the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race is heating up with Wild Thing 100, the newest 100-foot super maxi launched in 10 years, officially entering the fleet today.
Looking resplendent in her black and pink livery the super-sized Wild Thing – now a fully-fledged 100 footer completed her journey - with a large crew from Brisbane to Sydney in about 48...
Skandia (rechristened Wild Thing and Arca in 2019) is a 100 ft maxi yacht built in 2003. She was designed by Don Jones. She won line hours in the 2003 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race skippered by Grant Wharington.
Another huge milestone for Team Wild Thing 100 yesterday. All we need now is the mainsail and we will be sailing!! And we cannot wait! ⛵️ #thereturnofwildthing #wildthing100.
Wild Thing 100 will be the newest 100 ft maxi to be launched when it makes its debut in this year’s race. Owner Grant Wharrington has extended Stefan Racing, a Botin 80, which he sailed to fourth over the line in 2021 and 6th last year.
Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert's Wild Thing 100 after the start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Wild Thing 100 finished just short of an hour behind Sean Langman’s Moneypenny which had been in a battle royale with URM Group and Alive for the overall win. The pair were fifth and sixth boats to finish the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s race.
Wild Thing 100 finished just short of an hour behind Sean Langman's Moneypenny which had been in a battle royale with URM Group and Alive for the overall win. The pair were fifth and sixth boats to finish the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's race.