Get out fast and as far as possible.
That's the message the NSW Bureau of Meteorology's Michael Logan has for 109 boats in this year's Sydney to Hobart, who will have to negotiate a stormy first night at sea.
"For the lead boats, the further south they can get the better," Logan said on the morning of Saturday's race launch.
"But for the back boats, it looks like it's going to be where the gales are and where the change will have its strongest punch as it comes across the fleet."
A welcome north-easterly is expected to allow for a quick race launch at 1pm, entertaining the crowds of up to half-a-million people watching in Sydney heads.
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But from there it'll be time to batten down the hatches as a southerly buster filled with thunder and lightning will wreak havoc through the fleet.
"With winds potentially reaching mean speeds of up to 40 knots right on that change, and thunderstorms around, it's certainly going to make for a rough night for the first night for the fleet," Logan said.
So the further the likes of line honours favourites Wild Oats XI and Comanche can kick out in front, the better.
With light winds forecasted as the race moves into the Bass Strait on Sunday, the smaller boats have ample opportunity to catch up to their 100-foot counterparts.
"The lead boats might get to that first, but most of the fleet will see some lighter winds as they come across parts of Bass Strait and the lee of Tasmania at some point," Logan said.
