The Sydney to Hobart fleet is still days from setting out, but the four Johnston brothers aboard URM Group are already at work trying to convince another of their siblings to join them in 2024.
When waste management boss Anthony Johnston bought 72-footer URM Group ahead of the 2019 race, he insisted on bringing brothers Nick and David along as crew.
The pair of additions have contested two races since and welcomed a fourth brother, Andrew, on board last year, when URM Group finished eighth on line honours.
"Technically, I'm the boss, but everyone's quite chill and we're all working together," Anthony, one of nine siblings, told AAP.
"It's a great privilege to go down with the boys."
December is always a busy time of year for the Johnston family as the siblings converge on their mother's house for Christmas Day, before Anthony and Co switch their focus to the big race.
This year, Anthony will be continuing to remind his younger brother Nigel that there is a space for him aboard the good ship URM next year.
"I'm trying to get my younger brother who hasn't done one yet,'' Anthony said.
"I've got five brothers, I'm going to try get him (Nigel) on board next year.
"He just wants to do a bit of training. I spoke to him on Tuesday - next year I think I'll get him on board."
The Johnstons aren't the only ones for whom the Sydney-Hobart is a family affair.
John Winning Jr, skipper of reigning line-honours champion Andoo Comanche, is set to welcome his father John aboard, as well as his sister Jamie, who is racing in her first Sydney-Hobart.
There are father-son duos aboard Whisper, Advantedge, Love & War, Mako and Moneypenny, to name a few others.
But few vessels can claim to enter the 2023 race in as good form as URM Group, which had overall wins at the Bird Island, Sydney-Gold Coast and Flinders Islet races this year.
"It's down to the preparation of the boat," Anthony said of URM's winning ways.
"We started the season earlier this year, we made some modifications. We started well before Gold Coast (in August), and as a result we performed really well."
If the race is contested with strong headwinds, URM Group will be in with a chance of adding to her trophy case in Hobart.
"We want it a bit strong and a bit on the nose, so hopefully we'll get the right conditions and get the right result," Johnston said.
