Experience has taught Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards not to underestimate the threat from American newcomer Comanche in the Sydney to Hobart race.
Chasing a record eighth line honours victory in the bluewater classic, Wild Oats XI is among five supermaxis preparing for the Boxing Day start, including arch-rival Perpetual LOYAL, 87-year-old skipper Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin 100 and US entries Comanche and RIO 100.
Owned by American entrepreneur Jim Clark and his Australian supermodel wife Kristy Hinze-Clark, the high-tech Comanche is the unknown quantity adding intrigue to the 70th edition to the race.
Two years in the making, the yacht has been specially designed to win prestigious races and break records.
But a touch of "plastic surgery" and a more streamlined bow have also boosted Wild Oats XI's competitiveness, Richards said.
Speaking at the race launch on Tuesday, Richards swatted away suggestions the Comanche was a "radical" new rival, but conceded the race was anyone's to win.
"(The talent is) as high as it's ever been," he said.
"Anything can happen."
But his crew wouldn't underestimate Comanche based on its lack of racing, Richards said.
"It's always testing times for a brand new boat to do the Hobart," he said.
"But we were in no different a situation in 2005."
"We'd been in the water for two weeks and ended up winning the race."
Richards said both Comanche and Ragamuffin 100 had excellent crews capable of pushing their vessels to the front of the 628-nautical mile race.
Meanwhile, Wild Oats XI's long-time rival Perpetual LOYAL will be out for revenge after relinquishing the lead to Richards' team last year.
Richards said they were still the ones to beat heading in a race also featuring international competitors from New Zealand, Germany and Poland.
"I definitely know they're the benchmark," he said.
Some 118 boats - the largest fleet of competitors since 1994 - will take to Sydney Harbour on December 26.
