Andoo Comanche toasts Syd-Hob line honours

Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jr has described winning Sydney to Hobart race line honours alongside his father as "pretty emotional".

The 100-foot supermaxi yacht crossed the River Derwent finish line shortly before 1am (AEDT) on Wednesday, her fourth first-past-the-post win in the past seven races.

Andoo Comanche clocked a time of one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds - almost three hours outside the race record she set in 2017.

The supermaxi, which had not sailed the 628-nautical mile bluewater classic since tasting success in 2019, held off a strong challenge in darkness down the River Derwent from LawConnect, which finished about 27 minutes later.

Last year's line honours victor Black Jack was third, while nine-time winner Hamilton Island Wild Oats finished fourth.

Winning Jr was joined on the crossing by John Snr, who won Sydney to Hobart line honours on Ballyhoo in 1976.

"It's pretty emotional. These are the types of things that you look back on and say you're glad you got those opportunities," Winning Jr said.

"He's a big golfer and I hate golf, so it's the only sport we can do together."

Winning Jr dedicated the victory to "dear friend" Matt Munting, who helped him set up his extreme sports venture Andoo X.

The remaining 100-plus yachts at sea on Wednesday morning faced the prospect of strong winds, as eyes turned to the battle for overall handicap honours.

The number of retired boats grew to seven, with Huntress, Navy One, Sail Exchange and Mondo suffering damage.

Veteran sailor David Blanchfield was treated by paramedics for a minor cut to his leg after arriving in Hobart aboard Moneypenny.

Blanchfield was washed from the yacht's bow to mast at sea overnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of gale force winds off Tasmania's southeast, as well as strong winds for areas including the Derwent.

Andoo Comanche, the pre-race favourite, earlier set the pace down Australia's east coast despite a poor start on Boxing Day.

Winning Jr, who won line honours with Perpetual LOYAL in 2016, said his crew had to navigate some "hairy" moments early on, made more difficult by spectator zones that narrowed the course.

The supermaxi also hit a 10-foot log early in the race, suffering a chip to her rudder.

Winning Jr said he was worried about the notoriously fickle winds in the River Derwent dying.

"(Winning the race) didn't feel real until the last minute. It means a hell of a lot," he said. 

Andoo Comanche is the first yacht to take out Sydney to Hobart line honours under three different owners or skippers.

Andoo Comanche was one of two supermaxis who opted to take penalty turns during a dramatic start to the race in Sydney on Monday.

The Sydney to Hobart was not held in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.