SYDNEY (AP)– The 75 th Sydney to Hobart race fleet is expected to be spared from smoky haze at the start on Thursday and most luxury yachts are not likely to encounter strong winds on their sail south to the island state of Tasmania.

Thick smoke from numerous bushfires in New South Wales forced the cancellation of the recent Big Boast Difficulty lead-up race on Dec. 10.

However concerns that the start of the race on Sydney Harbour could likewise be affected by smoke were played down by the Bureau of Meteorology at Tuesday’s fleet weather rundown.

” Over the next few days we are being in easterly winds which suggests for Sydney itself and much of the Nëw South Wales coast we are not going to take a look at thick smoke haze affecting anywhere over the water,” bureau spokesperson Gabrielle Woodhouse stated.

” It is most likely the thick smoke haze will be overnight and in the morning, throughout the day itself it will ease off.”

Woodhouse said the race was likely to begin in a 10 to 15 knots north to north-easterly breeze.

The only actually heavy wind conditions, with gusts approaching gale force, might come on Monday or Tuesday, by which time a big portion of the fleet of 157 yachts should have ended up.

The race record of 1 day, 9 hours and 15 minutes set by Comanche in 2017 is not likely to be threatened despite the existence of 5 fast extremely maxis, including nine-time line honors winner Wild Oats XI and two-time winner Comanche.

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