SAILING:Record-breaking Australian maxi Wild Oats steadily built a strong lead in the Sydney-Hobart race yesterday as it sought a second straight win in the annual bluewater classic.

Last year, Wild Oats became the first yacht in 60 years to win the triple honours of race record as well as line and handicap honours.

Skipper Mark Richards had built a lead of three miles about six hours after the start but forecasts of rough weather mean the boat's record time for the 628 nautical miles is unlikely to be threatened.

The hi-tech 30-metre (98 feet) carbon-fibre yacht earlier lived up to its pre-race-favourite tag as it led the 78-strong fleet south down Australia's east coast after the start inside Sydney Harbour.

The race began in moderate winds of 10-15 knots but tougher conditions were expected as the fleet sails into southwesterly headwinds of up to 20 knots and swells of up to four metres.

Grant Wharington's Skandia, another Australian maxi, which won the race in 2003, began well and was second late yesterday, just ahead of New Zealand rival Maximus.

"Really, it's quite a nice day. It's looking great," Wharington told race officials.

The three maxis had already established a clear lead over smaller boats, headed by the sophisticated 70-footers ABN AMRO and Ichi Ban and former handicap winner Yendys.

Wild Oats was the first boat to round the first sea mark outside the harbour and turn south, with Maximus also beginning strongly. But the sleek, 30-metre silver-hulled New Zealand boat lost its early advantage when it appeared to suffer rigging damage.

As well as becoming only the second boat to win triple honours since Australian boat Rani in the inaugural Sydney-Hobart in 1945, Wild Oats last year set a record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds, more than an hour faster than the previous mark.

Meteorologists had forecast a stormy passage this year in a race remembered for the tragic 1998 event, when six sailors died and dozens were plucked from the sea after a terrifying storm. They have since modified predictions, but tough conditions are still expected.

While the leading maxis would be expected to finish in two to three days, smaller entrants could be at sea for up to a week.

The oldest and smallest boat in the fleet is the nine-metre (28 feet) gaff-rigged Maluka, which was built in 1932.

OLYMPIC GAMES:Azerbaijan will bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said yesterday.

"Everyone in the world knows Azerbaijan as a sporting nation," Aliyev, who also heads the country's national Olympic committee (AOC), was quoted as saying by local media following the AOC's executive board meeting yesterday.

"We will do everything possible to succeed with our 2016 bid but if not, we hope to bid again in 2020," he added.

The oil-rich country by the Caspian Sea has never hosted a major world championship since gaining independence following the Soviet break-up at the end of 1991.

The United States, Italy, India, Japan, Brazil and Spain have also expressed an interest in staging the Summer Games in 2016, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) planning to make a decision on the host city in 2009.

Meanwhile, Serbian Zoran Gajic was sacked as coach of Russia's national volleyball team yesterday following a poor showing, finishing seventh, at this month's world championship in Japan.n CRICKET: Ashwell Prince and Herschelle Gibbs dug South Africa out of a mess on the first day of the second Test against India yesterday. Prince was 47 not out at tea, which South Africa reached on 165 for four. Prince batted for almost three hours and faced 112 balls.

India squandered a chance to dismiss Prince for 41 when a delivery from Vikram Singh found his outside edge but Sachin Tendulkar spilled the chance at first slip. Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan maintained a miserly line and length to take two for 25 from 12 overs as the hosts ran into early trouble.

Khan first struck in the third over when Graeme Smith, who scored five, top edged a pull shot and fell to a catch by Tendulkar running back from first slip.

Hashim Amla became Khan's next victim when he was trapped in front for one, and South Africa were 28 for three when AB de Villiers edged a drive off Shanta Sreesanth to Tendulkar at first slip to be dismissed for nine.

Gibbs and Prince consolidated in a partnership of 94 that lasted until an hour after lunch.

Sreesanth ended the stand when Gibbs slashed at a short delivery and was caught behind by Mahendra Dhoni.