Sydney to Hobart race fleet in long-range wind warning

The former Whitbread yacht Lion New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race fleet have been warned they could face strong winds shortly after the start on Boxing Day.

A long-range weather briefing yesterday indicated the 117 yachts will begin racing in light easterly winds on Sydney Harbour but they should be prepared for conditions to get livelier quickly.

"As the boats move out of the heads and start making their way down south, they'll encounter wind speeds of around 20 to 30 knots," said New South Wales Bureau of Meteorology's Andrew Treloar.

"And it is likely we will have a strong wind warning."

Later in the race, a period of slack winds is expected to favour the small-to-medium sized boats. The super-maxis at the front of the fleet will be most affected by light air expected to arrive as the lead boats reach Bass Strait between the mainland and Tasmania.

Winds could drop below five knots for around an hour during the calm period, while the midfielders and tailenders are expected to enjoy constant 10 to 15 knot winds as they make their way across the strait.

Race record holders and seven-time winners, Wild Oats XI, is once again among the favourites for the 628 nautical mile race. Owned by wine maker and philanthropist Bob Oatley, Wild Oats is already the most successful yacht in the 70-year history of the Sydney-Hobart race. This year it will be going for a record-breaking eighth line honours.

But with four other 30m long supermaxis in the fleet, Wild Oats will face strong competition.

Of the four, most attention will focus on untried US entry, Comanche, owned by American Jim Clark and his Australian wife, supermodel Kristy Hinze-Clark.

- AAP