Sydney to Hobart yacht race forecast has Andoo Comanche veteran edgy and excited

Fast, furious and potentially dangerous. What’s got this year’s Sydney to Hobart sailors more than a little worried less than a week from the start on Boxing Day?

Andoo Comanche is one of four supermaxis in the fleet.

Veteran Sydney to Hobart sailor Iain Murray said the long range forecast for the 2022 edition “looks lovely’’ at first glance but there is a flip side to fast and furious racing that could easily cause dramas in the fleet.

Forecast hours of downwind sailing after the 1pm start on Boxing Day will see the 111-strong fleet romp down the NSW coast under spinnaker in building winds from the north.

But this fast-paced racing comes with inherent risks and has in the past triggered numerous early retirements from the race with damage to boats, sails and bodies.

And if yachts maintain their pace across Bass Strait, the going could become more hazardous if a nasty sea state is thrown into the mix.

Former American’s Cup racer and Olympian Murray, the sailing master aboard the line honours favourite Andoo Comanche, believes the forecast still favours the 100-footer being skippered south by 18-foot skiff mate John Winning Junior.

Andoo Comanche has claimed line honours in three previous Sydney to Hobart yacht races.

“We just need to be careful, like everyone,’’ he said.

“I think we could see 30 knots and while that’s very satisfying, is also very testing.

“Drivers can get very fatigued and it’s also very mentally draining.

Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jnr has assembled a top crew with Iain Murray a legend of ocean racing.

“You are putting your back into the helm and its physical.

“It also means less sleep so there can be crew fatigue.’’

Despite the caution, the early forecast is still unlikely to decimate the fleet as wild southerlies and nasty upwind sailing did last year.

In the 2021 event, yachts were being sent to the sidelines within a few hours of the race with major damage.

At race end, only 50 of the 88 starters had made in to Hobart and across the Derwent River finish line.

LawConnect is another line honours contender chasing victory. Images)

OUCH: Sailor putting body on the line

TOUCH AND GO:Boats to watch in overall race

There is still the possibility of the frontrunners being hit by a slowing change as they charge towards the finish and a serious likelihood of one, if not two, stanzas of unpleasant weather for the remainder of the fleet and its smallest and slowest crew.

While there is plenty of room to change, the early indications are the 2022 event will be a “big boat race’’ where the longer and faster members of the fleet will outshine the battler at the back in the race for the overall honours.

There is potential for this honour to go to one of the four supermaxis - Comanche, LawConnect, Wild Oats and Black Jack - or to smaller but fast yachts, including one from a group of 13 well campaigned TP52s including Patrice, Gweilo and Koa.

Other pre-race favourites in this competition include Willow, URM, Alive and Moneypenny.

For the first time in history, the two-handed boats in the fleet will also be eligible for the overall honours and there are 21 double handers in the race.

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Originally published as Sydney to Hobart yacht race forecast has Andoo Comanche veteran edgy and excited