Five supermaxis lead the battle for line honours in this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race, while the 52-foot Ichi Ban will strive to become the first boat in over 50 years to earn successive handicap wins.
Here's a look at some of the leading contenders for line honours and overall victory.
LINE HONOURS
* COMANCHE - Going for back-to-back line honours, all of her four supermaxi rivals will struggle to keep pace with this imposing beast of a boat if the long range forecast of strong northerlies over the first 24 hours eventuates.
* WILD OATS XI - Perhaps the best performed big boat across a variety of conditions, this grand old dame of the supermaxis remains very competitive and will look to add to her record eight line honours wins, though the last was back in 2014.
* BLACK JACK - The line honours winner in 2009 as Alfa Romeo, this proven light-wind performer is now more competitive in heavier airs and may need to be to trump her other maximum length rivals.
'* INFOTRACK - Relegated from fourth to 24th last year after being penalised for a rule infringement, the 2016 line honours winner as Perpetual LOYAL will fight hard to stay close to the other supermaxis.
* SCALLYWAG - Back after finishing third across the line in 2016, the Hong Kong supermaxi has had less preparation time than her four Australian counterparts and also had the unwanted hassle of suffering sail damage in the Big Boat Challenge earlier this month.
OVERALL HONOURS
* ICHI BAN - Matt Allen's 52-foot flyer is bidding to become the first boat for over 50 years to go back-to back in overall honours and will start favourite after winning the vast majority of her races on handicap since her 2017 Sydney to Hobart triumph.
* TEASING MACHINE - Perhaps the pick of the overseas contenders, this 54-foot French yacht has recorded good results in both the 2017 Middle Sea and RORC Transatlantic races.
* PRIVATEER - This Cookson 50 from the United States is considered one of the dark horses for overall honours and a threat to the Australian hopefuls.
* CHUTZPAH - Victorian Bruce Taylor has come close to taking overall honours on numerous occasions in 37 previous cracks at the race and if the forecast northerlies blow long and hard enough, his 40-foot boat could potentially deliver him a long sought after win.
* WILD OATS X - The race's first all-female professional crew has the experience and the boat to push for overall honours, with the 66-foot yacht finishing 11th on handicap last year.
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