Comanche: Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze-Clark.

Despite having a damaged rudder, the American super-maxi Comanche was first across the finish line in this year’s Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, leading the next closest boat, Rambler by roughly 50 miles. This is the first time since 1998 that an American yacht has won line honors in the race.

Last year, the brand new Comanche took second behind eight-time winner Wild Oats XI. This year, Wild Oats XI was forced to retire with a ripped mainsail. The same storm that sent Wild Oats XI back to the dock also seriously damaged one of Comanche‘s rudders.

Despite their impressive win, this may be the first and last win in the Sydney-Hobart Race for Comanche.  Before this year’s race, Jim Clark, the billionaire co-owner of Comanche with his wife Kristy Hinze-Clark, said that the boat would not be returning to the Sydney-Hobart next season, citing the expense, time and distance. On the other hand, Stuff.co.nz reports that “the only reason Comanche returned to Australia for the 628-nautical-mile race after last year finishing second on line honours to the Mark Richards-skippered Wild Oats XI in her first ocean race was due his wife’s urging.”

Clark was not able to sail the race this year because of arthritis. His wife, former model Kristy Hinze-Clark, was aboard as crew. One can only wonder if she will convince him, once more, to return Comanche to the race next year, if only to get the chance to once again compete boat-to-boat with Wild Oats XI .