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.
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards says there's a good chance the super-maxi will break its own Rolex Sydney Hobart race record.
Rival skippers Mark Richards from Wild Oats XI and Syd Fischer from Ragamuffin Loyal anticipate a good Sydney To Hobart battle.
Skipper Grant Wharington will not race Wild Thing in today's Sydney to Hobart. Source: Herald Sun
UPDATE: A last-ditch effort to get his 100-footer Wild Thing to the Sydney to Hobart start line has failed with a tearful Grant Wharington left "devastated" and "shocked" after being denied official status to the famous ocean race.
As race started at 1pm (AEDT), Wharington was learning his race was over before it had even begun.
Surrounded by his shattered crewmates, Wharington described an offer to let him sail Wild Thing down the course outside of the race as an "insult".
"I just can't believe this", said Wharington, who claims he was "blindsided" by the official decision to ban his yacht from contesting the 68th Sydney to Hobart. According to officials Wild Thing did not meet entry standards, which include verification of construction requirements.
In an emotional outburst after rushing to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for last minute talks with race officials, Wharington claimed he was targeted and is a victim of a conspiracy.
His crew waited anxiously outside before being ushered into the main office to hear the news.
"We are absolutely devastated to be told at the 11th hour that we are unable to race to Hobart," Wharington said.
"Would you believe they offered the ability to sail down the course and we can go into radio skeds and leave the tracker on, which is an insult. We are a bit stuck for words as to why it has happened and the situation."
Wharington has been uncontactable to race officials who made a public announcement just after 10am that he was not eligible to compete in the race.
This year's Sydney to Hobart was to have been Wharington's 25th Sydney to Hobart - a major milestone in ocean racing.
This would not be the is not the first time a yacht has been denied entry in the Sydney to Hobart.
In the 1978 race Skiska IV was also denied official starter status but still decided to sail to Hobart.
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