( CNN ) -- Investec Loyal 's line honors victory in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart ocean race has been confirmed after a protest by the race committee was dismissed Thursday . A three-hour hearing of the International Jury at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania decided that the crew of the 100-foot super maxi had not received outside assistance during the 628-nautical mile classic . The race committee 's case had centered around a conversation between Investec Loyal 's tactician Michael Coxon and a helicopter crew covering the race for Australian television . Coxon had enquired about the sails being deployed by their rivals and five-time winners Wild Oats XI as they battled rough seas on the Bass Strait . Official Rolex Sydney-Hobart website . Coxon is managing director of the company which made Wild Oats ' main sail and was concerned that it would not stand up to the testing conditions without compromising safety . Investec Loyal 's skipper Anthony Bell said the jury had accepted his explanation of the incident . `` One of the things that they did take ( into consideration ) was that Michael Coxon 's question was not to gain any advantage for our boat at all , but more to test how his business client 's product , that they bought off him , was going , '' Bell told the official race website . Following the hearing , Bell and his crew received their trophies for the line honors victory in front of a crowd lining Constitution Dock in Hobart . `` It is the long way around in some ways , '' Bell said . `` It is very relieving to get to this point . There are rules in every sport and , while it was n't ideal to go through this , I think that ultimately it gets beyond any question and whatever those questions that were asked have been properly answered . '' Investec Loyal beat Bob Oatley 's Wild Oats by just three minutes and eight seconds , one of the closest finishes in the race 's history . They had fought a tactical duel from leaving Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day until the finish over two days later . It is an against-the-odds victory for us , '' Bell added `` I am still waiting for one of my crew members to wake me up and say you 're on watch ! '' The remainder of the 77 survivors from the 88-strong starters are coming into Hobart in dribs and drabs with the handicap prize still to be decided .
Investec Racing 's Rolex Sydney - Sydney victory confirmed . Decision by race committee dismissed by jury of appeal . Five - time winner Wild Oats XI finished second in close finish . Battle for championship title still to be decided .