"But things can change. This is going to be a tough race as usual and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Beck, however, was not quite so pleased.

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“It’s a great forecast for a passenger. It’s very pleasant,” said Beck. “But (for) a big heavy boat like InfoTrack, we really need a lot of wind, so it’s a bit disappointing for us really.

“We can sort of bash through the really heavy stuff, but there is nothing to bash through in this forecast really.”

But the software entrepeneur, who says he bought his boat because it was cheap for a supermaxi, has not given up all hope.

"[Sailing] is a little bit like playing a game of backgammon, when you're behind you can take risks," Beck said.

Comanche holds the race record of just over one day and nine hours. With lighter winds predicted this year than last, that record is unlikely to be challenged.

"We're going to see some kind of transition that is at this point forecast at some point between perhaps Jervis Bay and Montague Bay. Somewhere we will see it go a little bit quieter and the wind shift a bit," Comanche skipper Jim Cooney said.