While it may be too early to know whether race conditions will help Master Lock Comanche break the Sydney to Hobart record, the weather forecast has at least given navigator Juan Villa something to be excited about.
The long-range prediction on Wednesday has suggested competitors will begin the 628-nautical mile journey from Sydney Harbour to Hobart's Constitution Dock enjoying fine conditions.
The forecast remains somewhat uncertain but north-easterly winds seem to be the most likely scenario on Boxing Day.
The Bureau of Meteorology's forecast largely depends on a cold front and low-pressure system moving across south-eastern Australia and should the system move slower, sailors could be instead be met with a southerly.
There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms if a trough passes Tasmania and Bass Strait this weekend.
Onboard one of four 100ft supermaxi entrants, Villa is confident line honours favourite Comanche will be able to enjoy downwind and speed out of the Sydney Heads.
"It's very good advice. Obviously, there are details that might change but mainly, what you take away is the big picture," Villa said on Wednesday.
"It will be a question about timing, so it will be more about preparing the weight on the boat, how to set up to get out of the harbour.
"Whether there are still some southerly winds at the beginning, we know that we're going to see a transition into a northerly. And if we get the northerly winds at the beginning then it's great, we're just going to start downwind and we know it's going to keep increasing."
Beyond finding redemption and defeating 2023 winners LawConnect, Comanche are out to beat the line honours record set in 2017.
Then known as LDV Comanche and under skipper Jim Cooney, the super-maxi completed the race within one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
Comanche, now under James Mayo and Matt Allen, will need conditions to be on their side but Villa says they won't know until closer to Boxing Day.
"You don't talk that much about the race record but it's always on the back of the mind of everyone, right?" Villa told AAP.
"We need downwind or broad, reaching conditions (wind blowing from the side, rather than as a direct headwind or tailwind). That's when the boat is quite strong to hold these conditions as much as possible.
"If we can have reaching in the river towards Hobart that would be great, because then we won't have to be either tacking or driving.
"If the stars align, we would probably know that just the day before the race.
"We have software that runs simulations of the best route and so on with different weather scenarios. We can run that, and we can have a more of a better accurate idea whether it's a possibility or not."
