A spectacular start in Sydney Harbour followed by hard-running conditions down the New South Wales coast put the 12 leading boats in the 55th Sydney-Hobart Race on track to break the race record. Four yachts spearheaded the attack as the 80-strong fleet sailed south in a north-easterly air-stream.

The biggest spectator fleet for many years in the harbour and an estimated crowd of 300,000 - almost twice as many as last year - on the headlands and foreshores witnessed the starter's cannon setting them off on the 630-mile ocean racing classic.

They faced an initial windward leg to a turning mark off South Head and a short fetch out to the sea-mark before beginning their downwind slide to Hobart.

Joining the fleet was the 146 ft Mari Cha III of Robert Miller, holder of the transatlantic record for monohulls. The mega-yacht was taking part as a preview to next year, when a small fleet of them are expected to race after their visit to the Olympics.

Early on the first evening Sean Langman's Open 60, Magna Data, took over the front running, but during the night, as the breeze increased and after both boats had blown out spinnakers, it was the turn of the Volvo Ocean 60 Nokia. Also involved was Grant Wharington's 60 ft Wild Thing, with George Snow's 76 ft Brindabella still in contention.

The leaders were expected to enter Bass Strait late this morning. It was here the storm struck last year's race and it is perhaps poignant that the handicap leader was Robert Kothe's Sword of Orion, a 40 ft replacement for the yacht that sank last year with the loss of the British sailor Glyn Charles.