SYDNEY - Crews of more than 100 yachts set sail on Thursday on a "boat-breaking" Sydney-Hobart yacht race, with gale-force winds and high seas forecast for the gruelling bluewater classic.
Under blue, mid-summer skies, spectators crowded onto boats and lined the shore of a breezy Sydney Harbour as a starting cannon set the fleet of 104 on a dash to the open ocean.
In a dramatic first hour, reigning line honours champion LawConnect lost an early lead when one of her sails failed to unfurl.
Comanche, four-time line honours champion and the event's record holder, soon took over as race leader and charged southwards along Australia's east coast.
LawConnect edged Comanche to win by just 51 seconds last year and the two 100-foot supermaxis are again expected to battle for line honours.
Race crews face gales, storms and big waves as they sail south and then tackle the notorious Bass Strait towards the Tasmanian state capital Hobart.
Weather is a critical factor in the 628-nautical mile event, first held in 1945.
A strong south-westerly change would move across Bass Strait early on Friday morning, potentially bringing showers, lightning, thunder, and waves of up to 4.0 metres.
"It's going to be a fast and furious first night out there on our way down to Hobart," said Matt Allen, co-skipper of Comanche.
"It's probably going to be boat-breaking sort of conditions," Allen said ahead of the race. "The really small boats are really going to cop it a few times in this race."