A chance for Kiwi skipper Troy Tindill to step up.

The Kiwi will be at the helm of Wild Oats X this afternoon for the boat's first tilt at the annual Sydney to Hobart race.

The boat is owned by the Oatley family, the group behind the eight-time winning Wild Oats XI boat.

Tindill says the role has added expectations.

"If we get into a heinous situation where we've got to make some calls on staying in the race or preserving the boat or getting crew back to land, making those calls is where you've got to step up and really lead the team."

Race record holder Infotrack and LDV Comanche are expected to pull clear of their rivals in the opening 12 hours of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Kiwi sailor Matt Mason will be onboard eight-time line honours winners Wild Oats XI, but says they and Black Jack won't be able to match the other two supermaxis.

"They could potentially be three or four knots faster which is gonna be pretty scary to watch and they'll probably nearly leg it out of the horizon on us."

Mason said they'll then fight back when the conditions are more in their favour.

He's expecting the leading boat will arrive on Hobart's River Derwent before midnight tomorrow.

Racing gets underway at 3pm.