Sydney to Hobart yacht race steerers to throttle back to avoid damage in high-speed first night

Sydney to Hobart skipper will be forced to apply the brakes to reduce speed and prevent boat breakage with a wild and wet first night being forecast.

The yacht Atomic Blonde racing to Hobart last year. Picture: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Sydney to Hobart skipper will be forced to throttle back to reduce speed and the danger of boat breakage and sail damage with a wild and wet first night at sea being forecast and a big bang in Bass Strait for the majority of the fleet.

Dozens of speed records are tipped to fall on the opening night of the 79th Sydney to Hobart as the fleet flies down the NSW coast under spinnaker and a high speed.

Ultra-fast running and reaching conditions are on the table not long after the start with line honours fancy Master Lock Comanche potentially hitting never before seen speeds of 40 plus knots which equates to around 75km/h.

“I think the top speed observed is about 39 knots and we could top that,’’ said co skipper Matt Allen, a three time overall winner chasing his first line on his victory on the 10 year-old yacht which holds the current race record of one day nine hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds set back in 2017.

If the current forecast eventuates the race record will be smashed - but the supermaxis need to make it to Hobart in one piece to claim it.

With extreme speed comes danger with the decks wet and slippery and steerers working overtime and in quick rotation to control their boats as they surf at speed down the NSW coast - and in the case of the front runners across into Bass Strait.

Yacht Andoo Comanche starting the race last year. Picture: David Gray.

Widespread sail damage could also be on the cards as crews struggle to stop their yachts rounding up or wiping out in forecast winds building to 30 knots from the north nor’east and gust to 40 knots.

A fleet of 106 yachts is set to start the race at 1pm on Boxing Day.

Meteorologist Roger Badham is watching the nature and timing of a low in Bass Strait the second day of the race closely.

It is expected to produce nasty 4m seas and 35 knots winds, making the going tough for the majority of the fleet.

“We have to watch it closely,’’ said Badham who forecast the shocking weather which slammed the fleet in the deadly 1998 race.

That low was not forcast until close to the start.

“It’s still a fast race for the big boats. They are still on record time,’’ he said.

“It could be a hard race for the others. At the moment it’s not 1998 but there’s a solid change.’’