Supermaxi Wild Oats XI took line honours ahead of Ragamuffin-Loyal in Australia’s Sydney to Hobart ocean yacht race last night in record-breaking time.

Onlookers cheered at Hobart’s Constitution dock as the race favourite crossed the line in one day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds for its sixth victory in the prestigious 628 nautical mile bluewater classic.

“It was close, we only just made it but it’s a great result for the whole team,” skipper Mark Richards told Channel Seven minutes after crossing the finish line.

“This boat is a great machine and we’re very proud of it.”

Ragamuffin-Loyal, which won last year, was still 50 nautical miles adrift in second and its time could be affected by an international jury hearing after it jumped the start in Sydney.

The previous record was one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds, set in 2005, also by Wild Oats, and Richards had his 100-foot yacht well ahead of that pace late yesterday as they powered down Tasmania’s east coast.

But a north-easterly breeze gave way to a weaker westerly that dramatically slowed her down and it was touch and go as the yacht sailed up Hobart’s Derwent River.

Wild Oats XI led the 76-vessel fleet from the starting gun in Sydney Harbour on Wednesday in a famously unforgiving race which takes crews across the notorious Bass Strait.

Catastrophic conditions claim-ed six lives and sank five yachts in 1998, and vessels are routinely unable to complete the race. There have so far only been two retirements this year – Living Doll and Primitive Cool.

This year’s event was marred by the controversial expulsion of supermaxi Wild Thing, the 2003 line honours winner which was among the top three race favourites.

Officials banned it just three hours before the start, citing incomplete documentation of major modifications which extended the vessel to 100 feet.