Investec Loyal has been confirmed as winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, after an international jury ruled it did not breach race rules.
A complaint was lodged after Investec Loyal's crew asked an ABC helicopter for an update on its rival's sail set-up.
The race committee protested that the supermaxi had allegedly asked a third party for assistance during the race.
The ABC reports that after deliberating for nearly three hours on Thursday morning, the race jury dismissed the protest.
"It's very relieving to actually get to this point," the yacht's skipper Anthony Bell said after he emerged from the hearing.
The crew of Investec Loyal had asked the crew of the ABC helicopter to tell them what sail Wild Oats XI was using when the yachts were just off Merimbula on the NSW south coast.
In an audio recording, Investec Loyal tactician Michael Coxon is heard asking: "Can you confirm, does Wild Oats have their trysail up? What colour is the sail, the mainsail they've got up?"
Coxon is a sail manufacturer who sold the mainsail to Wild Oats XI, and had argued he merely wanted to know if his sail was holding up in the conditions.
Investec Loyal crossed the finish line at Hobart's Constitution Dock on Wednesday evening, just three minutes and eight seconds ahead of Wild Oats XI.
Investec Loyal would have faced possible disqualification or a time penalty if it was found to be in breach of race rules.
