Wild Oats XI has crossed the line first in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the sixth time and has broken its own race record.
The Mark Richards-skippered yacht picked up speed and arrived at at Constitution Dock in Hobart on Friday morning about 20 minutes ahead of its 2005 record time.
The super maxi finished just before 7.30am in an unofficial time of one day, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 17 seconds.
The line honours win adds to victories in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
The crew had all but given up on breaking the 2005 record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds after rounding Tasman Island at 3.30am, AAP reports.
Westerlies of 10-15 knots late on Thursday night replaced the strong northerlies that had powered the five-time line honours winner to a position hours ahead of its record pace. But the yacht picked up the forecast southwesterlies as it headed into the River Derwent.
