Rolex Sydney Hobart's favourite to lead the fleet, the Wild Oats XI maxi-sailer was forced to abandon the race due to a broken hydraulic jack.
The supermaxi was going for the Rolex Sydney Hobart record when the hydraulic jack that drives the sailing boat's oscillating keel broke.
The crew tried to fix the problem for several hours, but to no avail.
The failures haunted Wild Oats XI for the second year in a row. Last year, the sailboat was also forced out of the Rolex Sydney Hobart early due to equipment failure, handing victory to its rival Comanche.
Wild Oats XI is the most titled competitor in one of the world's most challenging regattas, with the supermaxi having won the Rolex Sydney Hobart eight times.
The 628-mile race from Sydney to Hobart began on October 26. The regatta is in its 72nd year. There were 88 competitors at the start this year, but two boats retired almost immediately after the start.
The Vodovatov-led crew already competed in the 2014 Sidney Hobart and even won first place in their division.
