Sydney: Australski jedriličari u vodstvu

Australski jedriličari vode nakon prve etape utrke u Sydneyju.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race got off to a good start for Australian maxi Wild Oats.

The 30-metre boat was first out of Sydney Harbour.

The boat, skippered by Mark Richards, won the blue water classic race for the third successive time last year.

Now the crew is on a quest to claim line honours for a fourth.

(Soundbite)(English) WILD OATS SKIPPER MARK RICHARDS SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE:

"It's the Sydney to Hobart, who knows I mean it's a record, you could get to Tasman Island in 24 hours but it's a matter of getting from there to the finish line which can take 12 hours we just don't know we will see what happens, just give it our best shot."

But fellow maxi Skandia also appears to be doing that.

Skandia was second past Sydney Heads.

The 2003 line honours winner, soon joined Wild Oats at the front of the fleet.

The early leader in the race for overall honours on handicap is Yendys, skippered by Geoff Ross.

(Soundbite)(English) YENDYS SKIPPER GEOFF ROSS:

"We are in good shape, so we are looking forward to the race, we are hoping for the best."

But weather conditions will play their part and are expected to favour the bigger boats in the 100-strong fleet.

Northerly winds should freshen to 25 knots with a westerly change on Sunday.

Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri, Reuters