Consistently successful Sydney to Hobart campaigner Roger Hickman has compiled a detailed dossier on his rivals for handicap honours.

Hickman, who has finished in the top 10 on handicap in 26 of his 30 Hobarts, is one of the most respected sailors in the race.

He has featured on a couple of overall winners and has left as little as possible to chance this year.

The Tasmanian-born sailing veteran is once again aboard another fancied contender for overall victory, the 49-foot Limit owned by Alan Brierty.

With the aid of technology, he has compiled a list of details on almost a third of the 81 other boats which will set out from Sydney Harbour on Wednesday afternoon.

Hickman said he was checking on the position of rival boats as early as 10 minutes after the start of the race.

"If you know where you are and also knowing your opposition, it's so vital that you know as much about that boat and that crew as possible," Hickman said.

"We have a really good dossier on about 25 boats. We know who's steering them, we know what sail wardrobe they have and what their strong and weak points are.

"Last year one of the mistakes we made was watching the top boats and not (eventual overall winner) Love & War and we weren't watching (eventual handicap third placegetter) Challenge and that's why they got the jump.

"This year we will not make that mistake, we won't underestimate anybody that is well sailed.

"We've become more obsessional now we've got computers, we've got innovations where we can bring data down from satellites.

"We've got so much more information whereas in the old days, you would just get asked."

Ray Roberts, the skipper of strong contender Quantum Racing, earlier this week estimated over 20 boats had a realistic chance of securing overall victory.

Among the boats who are most fancied are the new American TP65 Rosebud.

The main local hopes include the 55-foot Yendys and 52-foot Wot Yot.

The prospects of line honours favourite Wild Oats XI also taking handicap honours and repeating its 2005 double will hinge on the weather.

Early forecasts suggested it had an excellent chance, but that may have diminished following the more recent bulletins.

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