The portents are positive and the parallels with his last Sydney to Hobart triumph are striking for Geoff Ross, the favourite for handicap honours this year, in his latest Yendys.

Other frontline contenders, in a race expected to favour mid-sized boats rather than the three maxis, included 60 foot Loki, the 49-footer Flirt and the 46 foot Hardys Secret Mens Business.

Specifically built for the Sydney to Hobart, the 55 foot Yendys, which is Sydney spelt backwards, is the fifth Ross yacht to carry that name.

The first grand prix yacht out of McConaghy Internationals new boatyard in China, Yendys raced for the first time in this month's Rolex Trophy, where it finished just half a point behind Loki in the overall standings.

"We did four months work in four days there," Ross said.

"We were very lucky with that regatta in that we had winds from seven to 30 knots - absolutely optimal regatta for us - absolutely perfect."

The performance of his new boat, which he rated as the best of the five to bear the Yendys title, reminded Ross of his last overall victory in the Sydney to Hobart.

"This is exactly what happened in 1999. A new boat, just got on the water, came second in the Rolex regatta and then we won Hobart," Ross said.

"It's a great omen, I think. We got so much momentum. It's almost to the day, so I'm taking comfort from that."

Ross nominated three key factors in putting together a boat with the qualities to win the race overall.

"Firstly the structure, how strong the boat is and secondly there's hull shape to optimise your opportunities for winning," Ross said.

"The third thing is a general ocean boat. You know on the ocean you get a lot of water over the boat, so you've got to make sure you can work and exist under those conditions."

Ross said teamwork was another crucial factor.

"Most of all, I think you need a team that can use that boat and put the whole program together, so it's mostly about people," Ross said.

"We say two-thirds of the race is over by the time you get to the start line."

Ed Psaltis, who took overall honours aboard AFR Midnight Rambler the year before Ross in the infamous 1998 race, said belief was a big key.

"It's one thing just getting the boat ready, but you need to really believe in your heart that you can knock it off," said Psaltis, who will contest this year's race on a newer AFR Midnight Rambler.

"I've got myself and ten crew psyched up to believe just that.

"It's about perseverance as well, it's a long race, it's a tough race. So much of it is just about slogging it out and hanging in there more than anything else."

He said the reaction of people who found out he won the 1998 race in which six people died, was one of astonishment.

"Ninety per cent of them say you must have missed the gale which aggravates me, because we didn't miss the gale, we went right through the middle of it," Psaltis said.

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