Magnificent flotilla of 94 boats sail out of Sydney Harbour for one of the world's treacherous races to Hobart Skippers have been warned of gale-force winds over the weekend The race to Hobart covers 628 nautical miles, or 723 miles Defending champion Wild Oats XI expected to finish on Saturday The fleet moves down the southeast coast of the Australian mainland then across the treacherous Bass Strait A majestic flotilla of 94 yachts sailed out of Sydney Harbour today for the 69th Sydney to Hobart race. Skippers have been warned of gale-force winds over the weekend and an especially challenging and unpredictable run to the Tasmanian capital. Jessica Watson, the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo at the age of 16, is aiming to become the youngest female sailor to win at the age of 20. On your marks: An aerial view of the Sydney to Hobart race leaving Sydbey Harbour today She has already competed in the race taking part in 2011 and is aboard Perpetual Loyal. The supermaxis, including defending champion Wild Oats XI and its local challenger Perpetual Loyal, are expected to sail up the mouth of the Derwent River sometime on Saturday. The remainder of the fleet are forecast to face winds of 40-60 knots and waves of up to 12 metres early on Sunday just as they enter the notoriously volatile Bass Strait. However, a repeat of the major storm that sank five yachts and killed six sailors in 1998 is unlikely. A majestic flotilla of 94 yachts sailed out of Sydney Harbour today for the 69th Sydney to Hobart ocean race to Tasmania Challenging: Skippers have been warned of gale-force winds over the weekend during the gruelling race The race is on: The Nikata team is seen during the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2013 in Sydney While the bigger boats, including the super maxis, should be finished before the bad weather hits, the smaller and slower boats might have problems with the large seas. The international competition has been boosted by 12 boats from the Clipper Round the World Race, which for the first time is including the iconic ocean classic often referred to simply as 'The Hobart', as part of its 40,000 nautical mile, 11-month race. The Sydney to Hobart is a sporting staple of the festive season in Australia with the race start being held during the lunch break of the first day of the fourth Ashes test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While the bigger boats, including the supermaxis should be finished before the bad weather hits the smaller and slower boats might have problems with the large seas The flotilla of 94 yachts sail out of Sydney Harbour today for the 69th Sydney to Hobart ocean race which is one of the most challenging in the world Perpetual Loyal, Wild Oats XI, Beau Geste, Ragamuffin, and Wild Thing teams are seen during the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race The Beau Geste team is seen during the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2013 at sea, in Sydney Harbour High seas: A fleet sail at the start of an annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race on December 26 Wild Oats XI holds the race record of one day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds set last year and is attempting to win the race for a record-equalling seventh time. There were 94 starters in this year's race, including 22 from outside Australia. 'Treacherous conditions as far as the winds and the waves go,' Bureau of Meteorology official Andrew Treloar said at the final pre-race weather briefing Thursday. Vicky Ellis, of Bristol, England, was at the helm of the yacht Switzerland, which was in 58th place and about 25 nautical miles behind the leaders early Thursday evening. Exhilarating: Balance leaves Sydney Harbour just after the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race Ninety-four boats are taking part in this year's 69th edition of the 628 nautical mile blue water race Several yachts head out of Sydney Harbour just after the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race to Tasmania She's the only woman skipper in the Clipper race and one of two in the Sydney to Hobart. Ellis said in a telephone interview that Switzerland needed to make up ground after being slow at the start. 'It's going very well now, but it wasn't one of our better starts,' Ellis said. 'But the yachts we are overtaking now are bigger than us, so I hope we'll be moving up overnight.' Team members of Midnight Ramble ride the rails as they leave Sydney Harbour just after the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race The fleet moves away from the start line during the 2013 Sydney to Hobart race in Sydney, Australia Yachts battle it out in Sydney Harbour as they sail towards the Tasmanian state capital of Hobart along one of the most dangerous stretches of water Noting the bad weather forecast for late Saturday, Ellis said: I'm hoping we'll be finished by then.' The race to Hobart covers 628 nautical miles, or 723 miles. The fleet moves down the southeast coast of the Australian mainland, then across the often treacherous Bass Strait to the island state of Tasmania. The final portion of the race sees the fleet move up the Derwent River and to Constitution Dock in Hobart, the Tasmanian capital. Perpetual Loyal skipper Bell flew in American navigator Stan Honey, who masterminded the 2011 line honors win of Bell's previous boat. Another crew member on Bell's yacht this year is 2012 London Olympics laser gold medalist Tom Slingsby, the Australian who was strategist on the winning Team Oracle USA boat at this year's America's Cup.