Its name is Sydney spelt in reverse, but that's the only backward thing about Sydney to Hobart handicap favourite Yendys.

Several good judges rate Geoff Ross' 52-foot boat as the favourite for international measurement system (IMS) honours after it completely dominated that division in the lead-up Rolex trophy series last week.

Ross took overall honours in 1999 in his last Yendys boat, which will contest this year's event as Bounder after being chartered by Englishman Chris Little.

For 2003, Ross has assembled an impressive crew.

Among his prize recruits was Grant Simmer, the coordinator of the research and design team of Alinghi's America's Cup triumph this year and a member of Australia II's 1983 victory in the same event.

His list of overseas recruits includes Spanish navigator Juan Vila, who was aboard 2001-02 round-the-world race winner illbruck (illbruck) and the husband and wife team of Neal and Lisa McDonald.

The Trophy Series represented the first outings for Yendys under Ross since he purchased the yacht which as Banco Espirito Santos was the top-rated IMS grand prix offshore yacht in Europe in 2002.

"I'd say it has significantly exceed what we expected," Ross said.

Ross, who returned to Sydney late last year after three years in Hong Kong, was cagey about his boat's prospects and downplayed its chances of overall victory.

"Different boats can win in different conditions, you've got Ragamuffin, Ichi Ban, (last year's overall winner) Quest, my old Yendys, any of those boats can win," Ross said.

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