A fleet of 92, including five proven quality supermaxis, is delighting organisers of this year's Sydney to Hobart race.
Record eight-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI is returning for another crack after it reached Hobart first last year only to be demoted to second after a successful protest by rival supermaxi Comanche.
That boat, which also holds the record for the fastest passage, is also back in 2019 looking for a third line honours win.
Two other Australian supermaxis, InfoTrack and Black Jack, both of which took line honours under different names, and Hong Kong's Scallywag, round out the big boat contingent.
Back in the race is Ichi Ban, which is bidding to become the first boat to take overall honours in successive teams since Freya in 1964.
Matt Allen's boat, which has notched several other handicap wins since last year's race, will be one of 10 TP52s in the fleet.
"I am delighted at the size and quality of the fleet," Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore Paul Billingham said.
"Talking to several owners, it''s clear that a number are seeing this year's race as part of a two-year campaign taking us into the 75th anniversary race in 2019.
"We expect five supermaxis but it's when you look at the full list of entries that there is a real feeling of depth and quality.
"A number of yachts new to the race will make appearances.
"Among them, I'm keen to see how Sean Langman goes with the RP65 Naval Group."
Entries were received from NSW, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.
The international contingent includes three from the United States and two from Russia and Hong Kong.
Other overseas areas represented are Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany France and the race's first Hungarian entry, the TP52, M3 Team Hungary.
Clipper round the world-winning skipper Wendy Tuck, the 2018 Australian female Sailor of the Year and inaugural Offshore Sailor of the Year, will be aboard Grace O'Malley.
