Forget all the hype about the race for line honours in this year’s Sydney to Hobart, the real battle for overall victory will be 10 times harder according to the skipper of the defending champion.

Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest is bidding to become the first boat since 1965 to take overall honours in successive years.

Although the fleet of 100 boasts the biggest and best array of maxis ever, the competition for the Tattersalls Cup is even more intense.

“You can say there’s only three line honours chances, whereas you can say there is at least 20, maybe 30, handicap chances,” Steel told AAP.

“So it’s about 10 times harder to win the handicap than it is to win line honours.

“It’s going to be tougher this year than it was last year because I think we’ve got a bit more quality, but we can do it again.”

The TP52s dominated the handicap standings last year, filling the first four places.

The changeable and unpredictable weather forecast in the lead up to the Boxing Day start has made predicting this year’s handicap champion a befuddling task.

“If the big boats get to the Derwent before the southerly then they will be likely to win (on handicap). The forecast has got something for everyone,” Yendys’ navigator Will Oxley said.

Yendys, which was the highest placed non-TP52 boat in last year’s handicap battle, will again be a major contender.

Owner and skipper Geoff Ross has added Olympian and multi world championship winner Chris Nicholson to his crew.

Ross, who won the 1999 handicap race by just seven minutes, predicted their might be a similarly close margin between the leading placegetters this year.

All the top local yachts are warily watching the new 72-foot British boat Ran, which took out overall honours in this year’s Fastnet Race.

“Ran has got great credentials and a great crew, but the home town people usually do rise to the occasion,” Steel told AAP.

“So the overseas visitor has his work cut out if he thinks he’s going to come to have an easy win.

Ran looms as the only major overseas threat for handicap honours, though New Zealand’s Alfa Romeo could feature if, as some skippers fear, it becomes a big boat race.

“It (the forecast) doesn’t look too bad. The more upwind we can get the better for us,” Ran’s owner Niklas Zennstrom told AAP.

“The boat is very strong upwind and I think it will lose a little downwind. Loki and Limit will be very competitive because in light downwind (conditions) they are very strong.”

Steel and 1998 overall winning captain Ed Psaltis, are among those who fear the big boats could snatch the Tattersalls Cup if the weather conspires against the smaller boats.

“My gut feeling is it’s going to be a big boat race unfortunately. The bog boats will get in and the breeze will come in on the nose,” Psaltis told AAP.

Steel was hoping the traditionally fickle Derwent would come to the aid of the smaller boats.

© AAP 2012

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.