Spirit of Downunder has overcome sail trouble to take an early lead in the Melbourne to Hobart yacht race.
The day after the Sydney to Hobart yachts copped a battering in wild weather, conditions were near-perfect for the start of the Melbourne to Hobart race that got underway from just off Portsea pier on Sunday afternoon.
But last year's line honours winner, skippered by Lawrence Ford, had to deal with an early setback.
"The start was absolutely sensational," Ocean Racing Club of Victoria commodore Neville Rose told AAP.
"The conditions allowed a spinnaker start from Portsea over to Queenscliff.
"Spirit of Downunder had a blinder of a start and mowed through the fleet but unfortunately for them they had trouble getting their spinnaker down, which allowed Peccadillo and Extasea past."
Spirit of Downunder was the third boat to clear Port Phillips Heads, behind Peccadillo and Extasea, before retaking the lead.
After clearing the heads, nine entrants went on to fight for line honours in the 440-nautical-mile 'Westcoaster' course along the rugged west coast of Tasmania, while seven boats split off to race for the Rudder Cup, from Melbourne to Devonport, with catamaran Peccadillo leading the way.
Shortwave set the course record for the Westcoaster race - just over one day and 17 hours - in 2008 but forecast light conditions are expected to see this year's fleet take three to four days to cross the finish line.
The races follow on from traditional Boxing Day feeder race the Cock of the Bay from Port Melbourne to Blairgowrie, with multi-hull Peccadillo and mono-hull Journey taking line honours in their respective classes.
