Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023: Overall favourites include Caro, Alive URM, Moneypenny, Celestial

It’s named after a fictional character in a spy series, is being raced by a group of mates and has emerged as one of the surprise contenders for the Sydney to Hobart overall win.

It’s named after a fictional character in the James Bond a spy series, is being raced by a group of mates from Australia and overseas and has emerged as one of the surprise contenders for the Sydney to Hobart overall win - if the current weather forecast for the race plays out.

Sean Langman has done 29 past races to Hobart and never won but reckons he might be due a change of luck this year on his 69-footer Moneypenny if the conditions are right.

“It’s perfect for us, today at least,’’ said Langman of one of the most erratic and dynamic pre-race forecasts seen in recent times.

But with the weather models finally appearing to come to a sense of rough agreement on Wednesday, the likes of Langman and his Moneypenny team, Anthony Johnston’s URM, defending champion Sam Haynes on Celestial, former winner Alive from Tasmania and Caro, the 2023 Fastnet race champion owned by Switzerland-based Max Klink, are emerging as the boats to back for the coveted overall win.

There’s also a big chance a 100-footer like John “Herman” Winning’s Andoo Comanche could be in with a shot at the overall prize to go with her line honours victory of 2022.

Yachts Moneypenny (L) and Andoo Comanche going head to head at the start of the 2022 Sydney to Hobart.

Langman has spent around half his life doing Sydney to Hobart races on some of the biggest and fastest entries but also the smallest, oldest and slowest.

And while he’s lead the race overall on numerous occasions - including in his tiny 30-foot wooden yacht Maluka, Mother Nature has alway intervened to spoil his chances.

But the ever-changing forecast for this year's race - now predicting plenty of breeze from the east for the frontrunners at least - has Langman just a little bit excited.

Sydney to Hobart yacht Maluka owned by Sean Langman

“If it doesn’t change I will be cheering,’’ said Langman whose crew included son Peter, old skiff mates and top UK navigator Matt Humphries.

“He doesn’t know it yet but he’s sleeping on my coach,’’ Langman said.

Like others, Langman believes the international entry Caro, complete with its world-class crew, is the yacht to beat.

Klink and his team were among the favourites last year but were beaten by Haynes and his Sydney-based Celestial crew.

Crew aboard the yachts Alive and URM in a race on Sydney Harbour.

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“They have gone for a smaller bulb and more water ballast. Less drag is good for light air running and reaching,’’ Langman said.

URM is also in the race with skipper Marcus Ashley Jones claiming the yacht’s strength is its all-round ability.

“We enjoy upwind sailing but we are an all-rounder,’’ he said.

“We have also changed the way we sail downwind and it’s going much better.

“We have more sails and the angles are different.’’

Aboard the yacht is owner Johnson and his three brothers.

Haynes said his team has just come off a four-day training block with modifications carried out since her last win to improve her performance upwind.

“To be able to back that up (his overall win in 2022) is a massive challenge,’’ he said.

More from Amanda Lulham here.