Yachting: Alfa Romeo set for line honours

The crew of Wild Oats XI hike the rail during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Yachting titan Alfa Romeo, skippered by New Zealand salt Neville Crichton, is poised to take line honours in the Sydney to Hobart ocean classic.

The winner of just about every other offshore race in the world, Alfa Romeo caught a decisive breeze in waters off the NSW/Victoria border that eluded all rivals.

The owner of the second-placed ICAP Leopard, Mike Slade, said after entering Bass Strait that he would be very surprised Alfa's accomplished crew did something to allow him back in the hunt.

"At the moment if your money is on Alfa then you are a happy bunny," Slade told reporters in Hobart from on board his yacht.

The Kiwi boat got the break north of Gabo Island about 9am this morning.

"There was no breeze whatsoever and it's always the case that someone will get that puff," he said.

"Wild Oats didn't get it, we didn't get it, and Alfa was on the right side of it to get it and off they went, putting 10 miles on us very, very quickly."

Alfa Romeo's on board spokesman Murray Spence was, however, more cautious in his assessment.

"There is a lot of racing ahead of us and there is going to be a lot of passing lanes," he told reporters.

"It's not a very straight-forward race really so we've got to keep on our toes, that's for sure."

Alfa Romeo finished second to Wild Oats in 2005, the yacht's only other Sydney to Hobart, before Wild Oats' four-year reign.

Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards told reporters this year's race was a "role reversal" of 2005.

"We were just a little unfortunate this morning to get left in a hole before the nor-easter built.

"Alfa Romeo got going well before us and basically put 15 to 20 miles on us before we knew what had happened.

"That's just the way yachting goes."

St Jude, the 42 footer from Sydney's Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, skippered by owner Noel Cornish, is leading handicap honours tonight.

Five yachts have withdrawn, leaving 95 in the fleet.

The bulk of the field was expected to cross Bass Strait overnight with the winner expected to reach Hobart late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

- AAP