KEY POINTS:
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race fleet has received a weather warning six days out from the start, with possible gale force southerlies on the New South Wales coast on Boxing Day.
Forecasters expect a low pressure system to develop to the east of Bass Strait on Christmas Day, leading to fresh to strong southwest to southerly winds around Sydney the next day.
Eighty yachts are entered in the race starting on Sydney Harbour.
