The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race began with a cannon shot and a lightning bolt.
Warned on Boxing Day morning of storms brewing along the course, the 103-strong fleet was treated to a preview of what was to come on their 628-nautical-mile journey when a single bolt of lightning flashed overhead.
As each yacht cruised to her starting position under bright sunshine, the wind gushed in and the rain began to pelt.
Thousands of spectators lined on the foreshore braved the wet, while those on the water onboard paddle steamers and motorboats took shelter inside.
But just as the crews began to don their wet-weather gear, the wind hushed and the rain cleared before Olympic gold medallist Dick Sargeant fired the starting gun.
Out of the four supermaxi yachts in the line-up, punters would have mourned the Wild Oats XI-shaped absence.
For only the second time since launching in 2005, the bluewater classic's most successful and popular yacht elected to skip the race.
Her competitors however, will have no complaints about the extra breathing space.
Six helicopters circled above as three-time runner-up LawConnect bolted at the starting gun to become the first out of the Sydney Heads, followed by rivals Scallywag and Andoo Comanche.
Like paparazzi to celebrities, media boats dogged the 100-footers for the best footage as the yacht's crews toiled to make the most of the light wind.
Spectator boats seemed to be running their own race, outgunning the competitors to the heads in a bid to secure prime real estate for the exit.
And though the rain held off, the fleet began to charter towards lightning until one by one, each disappeared into the grey sky.
As they race towards Hobart's Constitution Dock, competitors are set to battle sudden and erratic wind changes, hail, rain and reduced visibility all the way down the NSW coast.
