A race-record contingent of five supermaxis

Included in the fleet will be the supermaxi quintet of Comanche , Wild Oats XI , InfoTrack, Black Jack and Scallywag.

All those boats bar Scallywag have taken line honours in the race at least once, though some won under a different name.

Hong Kong's Scallywag was the only one of the five not to contest the race last year, though it was third across the line in 2016 and has another third and a second on its record from previous years.