Treacherous conditions have pummelled the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race, forcing dozens of withdrawals as Black Jack led a tight battle for line honours.

Sunday’s starting fleet of 88 yachts for one of the world’s toughest ocean events was cut down to 59 by Monday afternoon, as competitors peeled off after suffering damage or minor injuries to crew.

A close scrap for line honours was being fought out at the front of the pack between super maxis Black Jack, SHK Scallywag, LawConnect and the slightly shorter 80-foot (24m) Stefan Racing.

Black Jack, skippered by Mark Bradford, was race leader as they headed into the Bass Strait.

“Last night wasn’t too bad, the breeze got up a bit and it was pretty wet for a while. We managed to get through,” Ty Oxley, captain of LawConnect, said.

While Kayo Sports won’t be streaming this year’s Sydney to Hobart, it does offer sailing as one of more than 50 sports it has on offer including the exciting SailGP, which is shown live on Kayo and with replays.

Crowds had turned out to watch the boats race out of Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day after Covid-19 forced the blue-water classic’s suspension in 2020.

But the pandemic continued to cause problems. Before the start, four yachts were forced to retire, leaving 88 entrants at the starting line including 17 two-handed crafts, which are allowed to take part for the first time.

It was a sharp reduction from the 157 boats that set out in 2019. In a dramatic start to this year’s race, a major technical problem cost the 100-foot SHK Scallywag prime position to LawConnect after leading out of the heads.

The latest weather update predicted south to southeasterly winds to ease on Monday evening in the Strait and onto Tasmania’s coast.

Depending on the weather, the fastest super maxis are expected to arrive in Hobart at some point on Tuesday.

Though the first yacht to reach the finishing line grabs most public attention, the main prize for sailors is regarded as the handicap honours, which take account of the size of the yachts.

LawConnect navigator Bradshaw Kellett told the Sydney Morning Herald conditions were miserable.

“It’s horrible,” he said.

“I’m hiding in the hatch putting on my wet weather jacket. You can’t see.”

Spectator boats had crowded into a cloudy, breezy Sydney Harbour to enjoy the return of the blue-water classic, which was forced by Covid into an outright cancellation last year for the first time since it began in 1945.

The pandemic still cast a shadow, with some of the fastest yachts kept away this year, including the previous line-honours winner super maxi Comanche and nine-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI.

ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Sydney to Hobart

Four yachts withdrew over the past two days because of Covid concerns, including one that was announced less than 10 minutes before the traditional Boxing Day starting cannon.

Another yacht dropped out because of crew injury.

Among those forced out by the virus was Willow, one of the favourites for line honours, which had several crew members test positive.

That left 88 entrants, including 17 two-handed yachts, which are allowed to take part for the first time.

It was a sharp reduction from the 157 boats that set out in 2019.

Weather is a critical factor in the 628-nautical-mile (1,200-km) race down Australia’s east coast to the Tasmanian capital.

Six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued during the 1998 spectacle when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait.

“For all boats, the challenge after starting and exiting the (Sydney) heads will not only be to settle into their race rhythm and watch systems, but to keep their boats intact in the tough conditions,” the organising Cruising Yacht Club of Australia said.

The latest weather update predicted south to south-easterly winds Sunday with a strong wind warning offshore along the New South Wales coast.

The racers face strict health conditions including compulsory PCR coronavirus tests.

Race committee chairman Lee Goddard said Tasmanian police would allow racers to depart even if they were still waiting for their test results.

But if any crew member is informed of a positive result while on the water, their yacht will have to retire “immediately”, he told sailors Sunday.

Depending on the weather, the fastest super maxis are expected to arrive in Hobart sometime on Tuesday.

Though the first yacht to reach the finishing line grabs most public attention, the main prize for sailors is regarded as the handicap honours, which takes account of the size of the yachts.

In the last race, in 2019, Ichi Ban was the overall handicap winner. Ichi Ban owner and skipper Matt Allen is sailing his 31st Sydney-Hobart race after starting at the age of 17.

“It was a great adventure doing my first race and it’s a great adventure lining up ahead of number 31 as well,” he said ahead of race day.

“That excitement on Boxing Day, that does not change at all. That little nervousness before the start, that sense of relief once you get out and actually start sailing the boat.”