SAILING SYDNEY-HOBART:AUSTRALIAN MAXI Wild Thing survived a collision with a spectator boat as the 2010 Sydney-Hobart yacht race got off to a spectacular start with 87 boats on the starting line yesterday .

Wild Thing, skippered by 2003 line honours winner Grant Wharington, was keen to lead the annual classic leaving Sydney harbour. But a coming together with a small craft, which contained media representatives, put paid to that hope.

Wild Thing was forced out early last year through mast problems, but fortunately there was no repeat, as Wharington reported only light damage.

“Luckily we didn’t hook in, we just wiped the BBQ off the back corner of their boat,” he told the official race website.

As the 628-nautical mile test entered its first night, four-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI was in the race lead, followed by Wild Thing and super-maxi Investec Loyal.

Wild Oats, the current record holder, is expected to be first over the finish line late tomorrow local time, while Britain’s Ran, owned by Skype founder Niklas Zennstrom, is among the favourites for victory on handicap.

Strong winds are forecast as the 87-strong fleet battles the Tasman Sea and the notorious Bass Strait.

The annual “Bluewater Classic” was first held in 1945 and has become one of the highlights of the yachting calendar.

But the changeable conditions can often spell disaster and the 1998 edition saw five yachts sunk and six people died.

Wild Oats XI holds the record for four consecutive line honours wins since 2005, only losing last year to Alfa Romeo, line honours winner in 2002 and 2009 and runner-up in 2005.

The forecast for the classic southerly “buster” includes a 24-hour period of potentially gear-breaking conditions