Wild Oats XI leads fleet to Hobart - The Australian

The race committee of the Sydney-Hobart announces it won't accept the entry of Wild Thing just hours before this year's race kicks off.

The Sydney-Hobart race starts in Sydney Harbour with Lahana, centre, dominating the spectacle. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

Wild Oats XI heads out of Sydney Harbour as she leads the way to Tasmania during the Sydney-Hobart. Picture: AP Source: AP

Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, sails out of Sydney Heads leading of the Rolex Sydney-Hobart yacht race. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

WILD Oats XI has taken advantage of the shock absence of rival maxi Wild Thing to lead the 2012 Rolex Sydney-Hobart field out of Sydney Heads.

The Mark Richards-skippered Wild Oats XI led Ragamuffin Loyal on the way to Tasmania.

Earlier, a devasted Wild Thing skipper Grant Wharington lashed out at a Sydney-Hobart "conspiracy", after Wild Thing was banned from the annual blue-water classic.

His lips trembling and close to tears, Wharington, the Wild Thing skipper, said he was "absolutely devastated" to be told his super maxi yacht had been banned from this year's race.

Wharington said he had been further insulted by an offer to sail down the 628 nautical mile course with the other yachts but not be part of the race.

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