A fightback line honours victory for American supermaxi Comanche could well make owner Jim Clark reconsider his decision not to recontest the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Bruised and battered, the 100-footer crossed the finish line just before 10pm (AEDT) on Monday in a time of two days, eight hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds, well outside the 2012 record.
Clark said before the 2015 race that the four-and-a-half-month campaign to bring the boat Down Under cost too much time and money.
But he admitted Monday's result could change his mind.
"There's lots of other things to do in the world," Clark argued.
"But we'll think about it, we're not sure if we'll come back."
However, Clark's wife, Australian model Kristy Hinze-Clark - who steered the boat across the line on Monday night - had no such doubts.
"It's not going to be the last time she's here ... not if I've got anything to do with it," co-owner Hinze-Clark said.
Skipper Ken Read said the boat took a pounding when it hit something in the water on the first night at sea.
The heavy knock dislodged the dagger board which was flailing beneath the boat, attached only by ropes.
"I was most worried about the sharp edges of the dagger board puncturing up through the hull of the boat so we desperately were trying to cut the ropes to get rid of the dagger board," Read told reporters after the race.
"Of course when we cut the ropes to get rid of the dagger board we saved the hull but cleaned out the rudder."
It wrecked the steering system and broke off the tiller arm, leaving the rudder facing backwards.
At first the crew dropped the sails and everyone thought the campaign was over, but after some emergency repairs, the race was back on and, 13 hours later, the lead Comanche had lost to Rambler 88 was regained.
The extent of damage to the boat remains to be seen.
"I've gone around the world a couple of times and I don't think I've come into a dock ... as wounded as this boat is," Read said.
"We don't even know what the underbody looks like, I have a feeling we've got some pretty big gashes."
Comanche was one of many boats damaged during the 2015 race.
From the starting fleet of 108, there have been 31 withdrawals, most linked to the first night of rough conditions.
Second-placed Rambler, also from America, and due to finish about 8am (AEDT) on Tuesday, has suffered dagger board damage, as has third-placed Australian supermaxi Ragamuffin.
The standings for handicap winner remain wide open and are not expected to be finalised for days.
