SYDNEY, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Despite fears that thick bushfire smoke would hinder the beginning of Australia's most prestigious yacht race, the Sydney to Hobart got underway on Thursday in crystal clear conditions.
Leading the international fleet of 157 out of Sydney Heads on the 75th anniversary of the Boxing Day classic was Info Track, followed closely by other supermaxis Scallywag, Wild Oats XI and Black Jack.
Although line honors favorite Comanche was comparatively slow making it out of the Harbor City in the 15 knot north-easterly breeze, having previously held the record for the fastest time into blue water, it quickly began to make up ground.
By 4pm local time, three hours after the opening gun, Comanche was well ahead of the fleet.
While weather conditions are expected to favor heavier, wider boats like Comanche and Info Track, forecasters are predicting 30 knot southerly winds towards the end of the race, which could set up a nail-biting finish.
"Comanche is one extreme, and we are the other extreme," tactician Iain Murray on the nine-time-winning boat Wild Oats XI told reporters before the race.
"The skinny little boat likes some light breeze going downwind, and the bigger boats like to reach."
"So it's going to be a test of where we go, and how much of each one you get. I'm sure there's going to be a bit of cat and mouse in all this."
Although crews relished this morning's blue skies, the conditions are not expected to stick around much longer, as a large number of bushfires continue to rage across Australia's east coast.
"There is one particularly large fire, down to the south of Jervis Bay," Australian Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse warned crews this morning.
"So if you're inshore, you may see and experience some smoke haze."
"It will be more likely that it will be thicker during the overnight and early morning period in that area."
Comanche and the other supermaxis are expected to make it to Hobart sometime around Friday evening or Saturday morning.
