Punters have totally written off the line honours prospects of all Sydney to Hobart contenders bar super maxis Zana and Skandia in a race tipped to develop into a tactical battle in mostly moderate conditions.

The absence of any especially heavy or dangerous weather in the Bureau of Meteorology forecast announced only served to strengthen the view that the line honours battle was a two boat race.

Centrebet reported punters had put virtually all their money on either Victorian entry Skandia ($1.65) or New Zealand's Zana ($2.30) with a total of less than $100 wagered on the rest of the 57-strong fleet getting to Hobart first.

"That wouldn't surprise me, even more so now it looks more favoured to the bigger boats," Skandia's skipper Grant Wharington said.

"Because we are going to spend more long periods either upwind or close reaching so that indicates the little lighter boats just aren't going to get any sort of run-on with spinnakers."

While the punters favoured Skandia over Zana, Nicorette's skipper Ludde Ingvall and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore John Messenger were among those who felt the New Zealand boat was the one to beat.

Centrebet reported betting along trans-Tasman lines with Australian punters backing Skandia and all the money from New Zealand going on Zana.

Sean Langman, skipper of renowned downwind flier Grundig AAPT, which reached Hobart second last year, dismissed any chance of his 66 foot boat going one better this time.

"We will really be racing for third place, the longer boats will really stretch their legs (on the first two days)," Langman said.

However, Zana's sailing master Peter Sutton, felt other boats outside the two new super maxis could take line honours under the right conditions.

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