KEY POINTS:
A cluster of awesomely fast and modern boats, a quartet of sprightly octogenarians and a handful of former football stars are set to add colour to a potentially record-breaking Sydney-to-Hobart race this year.
Around 80 yachts drawn from around Australia and overseas set sail south today.
Wild Oats XI will bid to become only the second boat after Morna (1946-47-48) to take line honours in three successive years.
While the withdrawal of New Zealand boat Maximus with a damaged keel removed one particularly dangerous rival, the New South Wales maxi and betting favourite should still have plenty of competition.
New British maxi City Index Leopard looms as an especially formidable challenger, especially in strong headwinds.
Victorian maxi Skandia, the 2003 line honours winner, should also be near the front of the fleet. Ebullient Englishman Mike Slade, the owner of City Index Leopard, said he would feel ambivalent if he was fortunate enough to deny his Wild Oats XI rival Bob Oatley a record-equalling win.
"It's rather like your mother-in-law driving your brand new Ferrari over a cliff - you don't know whether to be happy or sad about it," Slade said.
Connections of Wild Oats XI and City Index Leopard believe their boats could smash the race record by between four and 10 hours given favourable weather.
Irrespective of the impressive technology and sailing acumen on board the fancied vessels, weather will invariably make or break each boat's prospects. A drop in wind can wreck a yacht's handicap hopes, while a rising breeze and strengthening seas canliterally wreck a boat.
Rarely does a year pass without one of the favoured big boats failing to finish with Maximus the major casualty last year.
"In the Sydney to Hobart there are three things you've got to do," Slade said.
"You've got to sail the right course, you've got to get there and you've got to cross the line first - most important is getting there in one piece."
While the race attracts some of the most modern and expensive boats, it still also draws weekend sailors, who remain true to the event's Corinthian ideals.
At the opposite end to the imposing 30m maxis is the 9.99m Western Australian yacht Palandri Wines Minds Eye, the smallest boat in the race. This year's trek south has also attracted some distinguished performers from sports contested on firmer ground.
Newly retired Collingwood AFL legend Nathan Buckley will make his debut on Hugo Boss II, while former Wallaby prop Bill Young gets his first taste of the race on board George Gregan Foundation, renamed after the Australian rugby player.
AFL Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy is comparatively an old salt, in his sixth attempt at the race as part of Grant Wharington's Skandia.
The great charm of the race is that it also attracts a wider cross-section of age groups than just about any other open sporting event.
Three 80-year-old men are scheduled to race this year. Sydneysider John Walker, at 85, will become the oldest skipper to contest the race, while Lou Abrahams, a two time overall winner, will embark upon a record-equalling 44th Sydney to Hobart.
The mark, which is held by the late John Bennetto, will also be equalled by Tony Cable, not yet a member of the octogenarian club, but who will be on board Phillips Foote Witchdoctor, extending to 27 its record for the most Hobart races contested by a yacht.
The other 80-year-old sailors are Tony Fisher and one of the sport's most venerated veterans, Syd Fischer.
Yet another octogenarian is Michael York, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's longest serving member, who will fire the starting cannon on Boxing Day, when his son, Andrew, will be on board the Queensland boat Alacrity.
While only a handful of entrants can realistically aspire to line honours, the battle for overall handicap victory is a much more open and unpredictable affair.
New American boat Rosebud has emerged as a likely contender after taking handicap honours in the Big Boat Challenge and Rolex Trophy series, two of the major lead-up events.
Another contender is Limit, the division two Rolex Trophy winner, which has America's Cup yachtsman Gavin Brady calling the tactical shots and vastly experienced Roger Hickman as helmsman.
Rosebud and City Index Leopard apart, the international contingent includes five other yachts from the United Kingdom plus Mexico's first Hobart entry, Iataia.
* THE TOP FIVE CONTENDERS
WILD OATS XI (NSW)
Line honours winner for the past two years and bidding to become only the second yacht after Morna (1946-47-48) to reach Hobart first in three successive years. Performed well in lead-up races with a brand new mast.
CITY INDEX LEOPARD (UK)Launched earlier in the year, the newest big boat in the race, established her ocean racing credentials by winning the famous Fastnet Race in record-breaking time. Significantly heavier than her maxi rivals and the boat to beat in heavy conditions.
SKANDIA (VIC)
The 2003 line honours winner has undergone some modifications in a bid to keep up with her younger rivals. Skipper Grant Wharington believes his boat is definitely better than last year when it finished third.
ICHI BAN (NSW)
Second across the line in 2006, this 70-foot boat again looms as a major rival to the maxis. Skipper Matt Allen will be a busy man, as he is also the commodore of the host club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
ROSEBUD (USA)
This new 65-foot boat has caused quite a stir by taking handicap honours in the major leadup events: the Big Boat Challenge and Rolex Trophy series. American skipper Roger Sturgeon is tackling the Hobart for the first time.
- AAP
