After a five-month sprint, Mark Richards and his team are nearing completion of a transformation few would attempt on a yacht of this pedigree.
More than 300 guests gathered at Sydney’s historic Woolwich Dock to witness the christening of Palm Beach XI, the newly modified 100-foot supermaxi formerly known as Wild Oats XI. The ceremony was performed by respected Australian yachtsman Colin O’Neil, a longtime friend of Richards and a Palm Beach Motor Yachts owner, marking a symbolic handoff from one era to the next.
The event capped a 165-day, globe-spanning rebuild aimed at returning the 20-year-old supermaxi to the forefront of international ocean racing. Palm Beach XI is now preparing to rejoin the world stage, beginning with the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on December 26. This year’s race will see a fleet of 133 entries—the second-largest starting lineup this century—competing over the 628-nautical-mile course, with Palm Beach XI set to face five other 100-foot supermaxis in the battle for line honors.
For Richards, the project carries both professional and personal weight. “It’s a full-circle moment,” he said. “I’m deeply grateful to the Oatley family for their amazing support and friendship over the past 26 years. Twenty years ago, we made Wild Oats XI a benchmark in global ocean racing. To now carry that legacy forward as Palm Beach XI—under new ownership and as a global brand ambassador for Palm Beach Motor Yachts—is both an honor and a responsibility I’m proud to lead.”
