Sydney Harbour was awash with watercraft of all shapes and sizes as some of the world's most advanced yachts jostled for early advantage in their epic race to Hobart.
A flotilla of revellers watched on as 1pm, Boxing Day approached and with it, the 73rd edition of the 630-nautical mile classic. They were crammed into luxury motorboats, old crayfishing craft and everything in between.
The crowd wasn't limited to the water either, with thousands perched on the harbour's banks.
While it was a party atmosphere at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia where many of the 102 yachts set off, the mood quickly turned to the business of racing at a chaotic start line.
Concubine skipper Jason Ward said while it was his third Sydney to Hobart, it was impossible not to feel excited and nervous ahead of the race.
"I'm starting to enjoy the atmosphere and we're hoping we can put on a good showing," Mr Ward told AAP minutes before he set out to the start line.
He said the crew would spend the next two days running on two-hour rotations between crewing, standby and sleep.
"For two days that's do-able, for much longer than that it's pretty hard yakka."
"By the time you get out of your wet weather gear and into your bunk and have something to eat and drink it's probably only an hour.
"It's not the most restful sleep."
Some sailers amongst the fleet are in their first Sydney to Hobart, including American Andrew Weiss, whose yacht arrived on the back of a massive seven star boat two weeks ago.
"It was a little tense for that part," he laughed.
The skipper of Christopher Dragon told AAP he'd never been to Australia before but was thankful for the favourable conditions forecast for the world famous race.
While the harbour was aflutter with hundreds of white sails, the massive black canvases of the supermaxis cut an imposing figure on the water as as they bore down on the line as the starting gun fired.
Light air specialist Black Jack shaded LDV Comanche by one second around the first turning mark and was first out of the Sydney Heads and into clean water.
Just a few hundred yards behind the leader, the water between the heads resembled a spa bath as spectator craft and racing yachts crisscrossed while being battered by the open ocean waves.
Amongst the confusion, supermaxis LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI came dangerously close to colliding.
A tack from Wild Oats XI brought it very close to LDV Comanche, which appeared to fly a protest flag.
Scores of boats followed the giant sails of the leaders past Sydney's iconic Bondi and Bronte beaches as helicopters buzzed overhead, though some smaller vessels began to peel off for the shelter of Sydney Harbour.
While the maxis vying for line honours could be sipping champagne in a few days, its a long slog ahead for many older yachts.
As the excitement died down and the field stretched out along Sydney's coast, 85-year-old Maluka was only just plodding out through the heads.
The nine metre long yacht, made of Tasmanian Huon pine, may only arrive in Hobart in time for New Years Eve celebrations, but there will still be champagne.
