Record Sydney-Hobart win for Wild Oats XI

(CNN) -- Australian yacht Wild Oats XI claimed the Sydney-Hobart race for a record fourth straight year after an epic battle with fellow maxi Skandia on Sunday.

Wild Oats X1 finished the 628-nautical mile race in the Tasmanian capital in one day 20 hours 34 minutes and 14 seconds, just over two hours outside their own record set in 2005.

Unfavorable winds in the Derwent River ended hopes of a race record, with Skandia crossing the line one hour and seven minutes behind in second place.

Wild Oats were also hampered by a small shark which became stuck under the rudder, meaning a temporary stop to free it up on Saturday night.

Skipper Mark Richards told the official Rolex Sydney-Hobart Web site that it had been a tough race.

"It was very, very difficult for us. Most teams would have probably fallen apart," he said.

"We sat down and had a good crew talk during the race just to make sure we could hold it together and we did.

"The boys did a fantastic job, with all the sail changing and stuff and that's what got us there in the end."

Skandia captain Grant Wharington paid tribute to his crew after battling the winners for much of the race and taking the lead in the Bass Strait.

"It was really great to be racing on the same bit of water and race them boat for boat," he said.

"Tactically we sailed a really good race; the crew did a fantastic job, I don't think we would have done anything differently."

Australian yacht Quest took the handicap honors in the 100-strong fleet which left Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day.

The race passed off without much incident although the 14 crew of the yacht Georgia had to be rescued after losing her rudder and taking on water.

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