KEY POINTS:
A day since the application for entries closed the size of the fleet for this year's race has already begun to shrink.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia said yesterday that the application for entry from Local Hero, skippered by Peter Mosely, had been withdrawn.
This reduces the estimated size of the fleet from 87 to 86.
Skippers who have applied to enter the Boxing Day bluewater classic now have until December 1 to formally submit an entry form.
Among the expected entrants will be two Volvo 70 class boats, including Australian-owned and skippered Ichi Ban.
If conditions remain light then clear favourites will be the three 98-footers, defending handicap and line honours winner and race record holder Wild Oats, Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley's New Zealand maxi Maximus and Grant Wharington's modified 2003 line honours winner Skandia.
Although Wild Oats XI slashed an hour off Nokia's 1999 line honours record last year, skipper Mark Richards said with the right conditions this year's big boys could consign that mark to history.
"If we saw the 1999 conditions ... there's any one of five boats that could absolutely smash it," he said.
Among the vintage boats racing will be Phillip's Foote Witchdoctor that will start its 26th race this year, a record.
The race, which starts in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, will revert to its traditional start time of 1pm (AEDT) and will continue with two starting lines.
