A rash of late withdrawals from this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race has left organizers unfazed and stressing the fleet had quality if not quantity.

Over the past week, eight boats withdrew, reducing the entry list to 57 - the same size as the 2002 fleet, which was the smallest in around 30 years.

Included among the withdrawals were interstate entrants Trumpcard and Koomooloo from Queensland and Victoria's Sportboatz.com.

The other boats to pull out of the race starting on Boxing Day were NSW yachts Delta Wing, Next, Sorine, Broomstick and an unnamed Sydney 38.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore John Messenger, said there were a number of reasons for the spate of withdrawals.

"I think some of them are a bit worried about their sponsors and their sponsors commitments or they haven't been able to tie in a sponsor," Messenger said.

"Some of them, their preparation was not as far advanced as they hoped to be at this time and for some of the inter-state boats they may have issues getting here in time with their crew.

"It's a big commitment for crews to take the time off, especially when they deliver the boat here, then they probably want to go home for Christmas and then come back and it adds expense for the crews.

"Obviously I'm a little disappointed that we've lost some boats, I can understand the reason for that, but still the quality and competitiveness of the fleet is second to none.

"I'd rather have a small fleet of quality boats that are going to get there (to Hobart) and race competitively than a fleet of unknown boats that may end up with half of them (retiring) in Eden."

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