Damien King's Frers 61 MRV has highlighted its Melbourne to Hobart favouritism with a record-setting win on Boxing Day.
MRV won the Melbourne to Mornington yacht race, known as the Cock Of The Bay, and went more than an hour under the old mark.
MRV will be the yacht to beat when the 50th Melbourne to Hobart starts from noon on Wednesday at Portsea Pier on the Mornington Peninsula.
King and his international crew picked the conditions on Monday from the start and led for most of the race.
Gerry Cantwell's Marten 49, Carrera S, was second across the line and Rob Date's Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, took third.
The updated Melbourne to Hobart forecast is for light northerly winds at the start, building for a fast spinnaker run to King Island, before a strong westerly.
The fleet of about 50 boats will hunker down for the run down the west coast of Tasmania before encountering light airs rounding Maatsuyker Island and then into a headwind for the finish.
