Wild Oats XI will begin a new chapter under the ownership of Palm Beach Motor Yachts and will race as Palm Beach XI in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December 2025. Skipper of more than two decades and CEO of Palm Beach Motor Yachts, Mark Richards, will continue at the helm.
Commissioned by the Oatley family in 2005, Wild Oats XI has become one of the world’s most celebrated ocean-racing yachts, with the 100-foot Supermaxi achieving numerous victories including a record nine Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours wins.
This transition reflects an extraordinary and special relationship of more than four decades between the Oatley family and Mark Richards. Now Mark takes the helm as both owner and skipper, with Val Oatley the wife of the late Bob Oatley AO BEM saying, “Mark shared Bob’s lifelong passion for sailing and is a cherished member of our family. We are delighted at this beautiful opportunity to pass the baton to Mark and the Palm Beach Motor Yachts team. We wish ‘Ricko’ and his team every success, and we look forward to celebrating Palm Beach XI.”
The Oatley family’s sailing focus continues with its 66-foot Wild Oats X and the family’s other sailing interests, including through Hamilton Island Race Week and supporting pathways for the next generation of Australian sailors.
Media enquiries:Caroline Denyer
e: pr@hamiltonisland.com.au
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About Wild Oats SailingFor decades the Oatley family has helped shape Australian sailing. Guided by the late Bob Oatley AO BEM, and today under the stewardship of his family, their program of support values precision, performance and a deep respect for the ocean. Wild Oats XI was commissioned and built by the family in 2005, claiming a record nine Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours victories with Mark Richards at the helm.
Going forward, the Oatley family’s sailing focus will continue with its 66-foot Wild Oats X and the family’s other sailing interests, including through Hamilton Island and supporting pathways for the next generation of Australian sailors – a commitment championed by Bob Oatley and continued by Sandy Oatley via the Australian Sailing Team Patrons Program.
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