Wild Oats XI has passed a sailing test in stormy Sydney and is being boosted by replacement equipment from a rival and overseas ahead of the Boxing Day start to the Sydney to Hobart sailing race.
Wild Oats XI' skippered by Mark Richards Photo: Photosport
The supermaxi's 45-metre high carbon fibre mast was struck by a lightning bolt on Sunday in Sydney.
A significant number of vital electronic instruments were destroyed by the 10-million volt-plus discharge from the lightning.
Replacement instruments were obtained from the warehouse of rival supermaxi Black Jack, whose camp offered assistance after learning of the damage.
More instruments for the eight-time Sydney to Hobart line honours winner are expected to arrive today from the United States.
Wild Oats XI sailed back to her Woolwich Dock base on Wednesday afternoon through a 25-knot southerly.
She didn't have any more issues with lightning as a storm broke over Sydney Harbour on a sultry afternoon.
The boat is expected to be right and ready to go for the Boxing Day start of the Sydney-Hobart.
It has been forced to retire the past two years and pre-race issues had also occurred regularly in the past.
"Every year, there's something happens before a Hobart race," veteran Wild Oats XI crew member Steve Jarvin told AAP.
"A couple of years ago, we had to pull the mast out days before. We broke a boom before; we've had sail damage.
"Every year, there is always something that goes wrong, so we're used to it."
-AAP
