Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards says recent form suggests the super maxi can better its own Sydney to Hobart yacht race record.
Richards and Wild Oats XI set the fastest time for the race in 2005 as the 100-footer achieved a hat-trick of line honours victories.
This time around Wild Oats XI is chasing a sixth line honours win and Richards believes the race record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds could fall.
Wild Oats XI is in record-breaking form and almost certain to start as Sydney-Hobart as favourite on Boxing Day.
It broke the fastest time for the Cabbage Tree Island blue water race on November 17, lopping almost two hours off the record for the 180-nautical miler.
That victory also landed a blow against major Sydney-Hobart rival, Ragamuffin Loyal and its 85-year-old skipper Syd Fischer.
Ragamuffin Loyal, which pipped Wild Oats XI for Sydney-Hobart line honours last year while racing as Investec Loyal, suffered mechanical issues in the Cabbage Tree race and limped across the finish line in fourth.
Eighty boats are registered for the 68th Sydney to Hobart yacht race, including four super maxis and six previous overall winners.
Among the favourites for handicap honours is last year's overall winner Loki, the Reichel/Pugh class 63-footer.
