Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Start Video

Comanche heads south © Crosbie Lorimer

With the growing predictions of a potential line honours race record for the 2017 edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht, you could have been forgiven for wondering how that could be when the fleet set off at a very gentle pace down Sydney Harbour and out to sea in light easterlies.

Peter Harburg's Black Jack led the fleet out of the harbour with Sean Langman's Maluka bringing up the rear. The Bow Caddy team took to the air and the water to capture the fleet as they headed south.

And for those who seemed sceptical about the potential for a race record - given the light airs start - the leaders were running fast downwind just off Green Cape in the early hours of Wednesday morning at speeds up to 26 knots and well ahead of last year's race record time.