Simon Kurts will be starting this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart classic for the first time, firing the canon around 1pm on Boxing Day to send the fleet dashing towards the Sydney Heads before turning south to Tasmania.

But he won’t be impartial. The veteran of more than 20 Sydney to Hobart races and owner of the 51-year-old Love & War will be praying for strong southerly winds across the Bass Strait, fierce enough to thwart the ambitions of those aboard lighter, younger, less hardy competitors.