Veteran yachtsman Keith Glover has been quick to sum up American supermaxi Comanche's flying start to the 2014 Sydney to Hobart.
"It was spectacular," said Mr Glover from onboard his yacht on Sydney Harbour.
"The day's been absolutely fabulous.
"Everybody's looking at everybody else; it's like a whole bunch of voyeurs out here."
The 70-year-old was one of thousands on the harbour on Friday to send off the 117 yachts competing in the 70th Sydney to Hobart.
Spectator boats jostled from early morning for a prime spot to watch the competitors embarking on the annual 628 nautical mile race to Tasmania.
By the time the starter's gun went off at 1pm (AEDT), speedboats, luxury cruisers, yachts and even water taxis were out on the harbour to see off the yachts on a classic hot and sunny Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, thousands of onlookers, many just in swimsuits, filled vantage points around the foreshore and on harbour islands - all part of the Sydney Boxing Day tradition.
Police and NSW Maritime officers kept vessels outside the race exclusion zone.
Vicky Carnes, who travelled from Brisbane for the day, described the blue water classic as "one of the world's unique events".
"I was sitting on the boat thinking 'there are people watching this all around the world, and I'm so lucky to be in Australia and be here'," she said.
"It's so accessible right here in our backyard."
Assisted by 15-knot southeasterly winds, Comanche was first out of the Sydney Heads ahead of rival Wild Oats XI.
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