Sydney to Hobart: Alfa Romeo takes early lead

The crew of 'Alfa Romeo' hike on the rail during the start of the 65th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Photo / Getty Images

Alfa Romeo, the 2002 line honours winner, was first out of Sydney Harbour today at the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, just ahead of four-time defending champion Wild Oats XI.

Alfa Romeo, skippered by Sydney-based New Zealander Neville Crichton, took advantage of a spinnaker problem on board Wild Oats to take a slender lead as the 100-yacht fleet made its way out of the harbour and south along the New South Wales state coast.

In 2005, Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, finished the 628-nautical mile race in a record one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes, after crossing the line at Constitution Dock on the island state of Tasmania. The yacht is seeking its fifth straight win in the annual bluewater classic.

British entry ICAP Leopard, a heavier boat which is expected to take advantage of stronger headwinds during in the race, was third out of the harbour.

Before the race started amid hundreds of spectator craft in the harbour, Richards predicted the race would be a "mindbender" because of weather forecasts.

"It's going to be a tricky race, nowhere near as windy as what everyone thought, which is going to be a good thing for the fleet I think," Richards said after the pre-race briefing.

"It's going to be testing times for all the big boats ... a very tactical race, a real mindbender."

The fleet was exactly 100, with maxi Etihad Stadium, formerly known as Skandia, a confirmed starter after winning its race against the clock to transport and install a replacement mast from England.

The race, which was first held in 1945, has been hit by severe storms in the past.

In 1998, six sailors died and seven boats sank during a storm that hit the fleet early on the first night of the race. In 2007, eight sailors had to abandon a sinking vessel and three others were airlifted to hospital with injuries.

- AP