SYDNEY - More than 100 yachts set sail on Monday in the Sydney-Hobart race as favourable winds raised hopes for a record time in one of the world's most punishing ocean events.
Fans gathered at coastal vantage points and on scores of spectator boats for a crowded start in the sun-splashed Sydney Harbour, which hours earlier had been shrouded in a thick fog that halted all ferry traffic.
A starting cannon fired to release 109 yachts on the 1,200-kilometre blue water classic.
Crews dashed to get out of the city's harbour, with four 100-foot supermaxis -- the fastest boats in the contest -- tacking within a few metres of each other in a heart-stopping battle to get the best line out to the open sea.
A final weather briefing on race day predicted "fresh to strong" north to northeasterly winds over the next day or so, giving the big boats a chance to challenge supermaxi Comanche's 2017 record of one day, 9 hours, 15min and 24sec.
By late afternoon, the four supermaxis were speeding south along Australia's eastern coast, leading the fleet towards the treacherous Bass Strait and a finish line in the Tasmanian state capital.
Comanche held the lead in the race for line honours, with rival supermaxis LawConnect, Black Jack and Wild Oats chasing, an online race tracker showed.
"We always think we're going to be the best boat out there and do as well as we can," Comanche skipper John Winning said ahead of the race.
"We'll just try and outsail the others and win it on that."
International boats are making a return after the race was cancelled in 2020 for the first time due to the pandemic, and Covid hit the fleet last year.
Entrants come from Germany (Orione), Hong Kong (Antipodes), Hungary (Cassiopeia 68), New Caledonia (Eye Candy and Poulpito), New Zealand (Caro), Britain (Sunrise) and the United States (Warrior Won).
Sunrise is a proven ocean racer, winning the 2021 Fastnet Race in Britain, while Caro has been tipped to take overall handicap honours, although skipper Max Klink played down his prospects ahead of the race saying: "I do not think we are the favourite."