Syd Fischer still takes it up to the big names in Sydney to Hobart Syd Fischer may be the oldest competitor in the Sydney to Hobart but he showed he is as sharp as ever as day two at sea drew to an end on Friday. At age 86, Fischer equals the record for being the oldest skipper in the 628 nautical mile race that John Walker set in 2008 on Impeccable. The wily and dogged Sydneysider - who is sailing in his 45th Sydney to Hobart - was still showing why he is considered such a master of ocean racing as he skippered his maxi yacht Ragamuffin to challenge the more fancied line honour favourite maxis, Wild Oats XI and Perpetual Loyal. In light north-easterly winds that blew most of the day, Ragamuffin dangerously stalked them from behind in third place while the two maxis fought for the race lead that returned to Wild Oats XI by mid-afternoon. For much of the day, Ragamuffin was also leading the race on handicap, which for many sailing purists is considered a more prestigious category. Syd Fischer. Fischer, who was honoured in October by being given Yachting Australia's Lifetime Achievement award, has won both categories in the race. In 1988 and 1990, he won line honours with his German Frers maxi that was called Ragamuffin - as all his racing yachts are named - and won the race on handicap in 1992 on Farr 50, that used to be named Will. The 100-foot Ragamuffin Fischer is racing in this year's 69th edition of the Bluewater Classic is the same boat that he raced last year to finish second on line honours, but for this year it has been modified and with much success. Some modifications include adding water ballast and dagger boards. In the United States, she took line honours in the monohull section of the 2225 nautical mile Transpac Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Whether Ragamuffin can go one better in the Sydney to Hobart this year than last year may be a big task, considering the capabilities of Wild Oats XI and Perpetual Loyal; but she would certainly be a popular winner. Certainly, no one would discount her, especially with Fischer in charge. Syd is the greatest competitor and the worst thing you can say to him is, 'You have no chance of beating me.' That makes him twice as hard to beat," said Mike Fletcher, a former race director of the Sydney to Hobart and nine-time Olympic coach. He is a real water person who started off in surf boats and got into sailing and in every size boat you can think of. He has always been a real tough man, in both business [as a property developer] and sailing and he is self made. He is a national treasure.