Sydney to Hobart favorite Master Lock Comanche leads yacht race into the first night

SYDNEY (AP) — Master Lock Comanche was leading defending champion LawConnect in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race late Friday local time in the 80th running of the ocean race to the island state of Tasmania.

LawConnect, the 100-foot supermaxi, had led the fleet early on after making a good start in its pursuit of a third straight line honors title.

Five hours into the race, it held a lead of two nautical miles over Comanche before a snapped halyard slowed it down and helped its rival overtake.