New Zealand supermaxi, Alfa Romeo is doing his best in the 65th annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race. She recovered to position herself to leeward of the three leading yachts setting error at the start right.

She is moving for breaking the record of Wild Oats who have won the harbours four times in a row. The initial signs are making it difficult for Wild Oats to maintain the past glory by bagging straight fifth honour.

Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards observed, "It's going to be a tricky race, nowhere near as windy as what everyone thought, which is going to be a good thing for the fleet I think. It will be a very tactical race it's going to be a real mindbender."

Giant Australian maxi Etihad Stadium suffered delay due to rigging problem which was later fitted by the skipper. Skipper Grant Wharington added, "Obviously I am just disappointed to miss out on the last one or two percent that meant the difference between being able to compete and not."

It should be recalled that six sailors have lost their lives in 1998 Sydney to Hobart due to powerful storm.