The Bureau of Meteorology doesn't anticipate any gale force winds buffeting the Sydney to Hobart fleet in this year's race.
The fleet of 102, including a race-record equalling contingent of 27 overseas boats, got the good news at the traditional Christmas Eve weather briefing at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
"We're not looking at gale force winds on this race at all," Jane Golding, from the NSW Bureau of Meteorology, said.
"But the warning to be looking out for most of this race is a strong wind warning, 25 knots to 33 knots; that's the range."
For the Boxing Day start, there's expected to be five to 10-knot easterlies.
As the fleet passes through the heads, they are tipped to feel 10-15 knot south-east breezes.
The wind is forecast to move around to the north east late on Tuesday afternoon, as the boats make their way towards the NSW South Coast.
The fleet will be pushed along by 15 to 25 knot north to north easterlies for most of Wednesday -- and for some -- into Thursday.
"You couldn't ask for a nicer more comfortable forecast, really," Mark Richards, skipper of eight-time line honours winning supermaxi Wild Oats XI, said.
Also on Thursday, a weak westerly change is forecast to move through Bass Strait and a south-west south-east change for the Tasmanian coast.
North-east winds are most likely on Friday ahead of a stronger front and westerly change on Saturday.
"For the boats getting in late there is a system around the 30th or 31st to keep an eye on in the westerlies," Golding said.
