Wild Oats XI celebrates sweet Sydney to Hobart victory

Wild Oats XI has won the 74th Sydney to Hobart yacht race, claiming line honours for the ninth time.

The boat crossed the line in Hobart shortly after 8am local time after snatching the lead from defending line honours champion Comanche before sunrise.

Supermaxi Wild Oats XI enters open water during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. The 630-nautical mile race has102 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. [Photo: AP]

Comanche is in second place with Black Jack and Infotrack closely behind.

The four yachts dueled down Tasmania's east coast but Wild Oats XI took a more easterly route near Tasman Island to take the advantage overnight.

Sydney to Hobart is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in the world.

This year's fleet was reduced to 80 yachts.