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Veterinarian and Celestial V70 skipper Sam Haynes is in with a chance of winning his second Sydney to Hobart yacht race in three years.

Conditions are looking promising for Sam Haynes as he eyes a second Sydney to Hobart win aboard Celestial V70.

Veterinarian Haynes has chartered the Volvo 70 with a view to reclaiming the Tattersall Cup, having won the race on handicap in a smaller boat named Celestial two years ago.

Many of Haynes' champion 2022 crew are on board this time around as the forecast appears to favour the bigger boats in the fleet of 104 starters.

Mini-maxis like Celestial and URM Group should be able to capitalise on a west-south westerly change that will make for rough seas in the Bass Strait.

At the same time, their handicaps are not so large so as to hinder their chances of overall victory.

"(Celestial V70) is actually quite well-suited to rough and hard running conditions," Haynes said.

"That's the sort of racing that this boat likes to do, it's built to race around the Southern Ocean. So we've got a chance (of winning)."

There'll be some luck involved for Haynes; it could be game over if conditions are too light on entry into the River Derwent for the final stretch of the race.

"The Derwent can be a bit quiet," Haynes said. 

"There can be no wind in the Derwent sometimes and we sort of have a timing that puts us at the wrong time in the Derwent. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen that way.

"We can win, hopefully, but there's lots to do before that comes to pass."

Haynes will also become the first incumbent commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia to contest the race since Matt Allen did so aboard Ichi Ban in 2009.

The commodore is heavily involved with the race's administration, but typically completes their duties from dry land; this year, Haynes has juggled his remit with preparations for the 628nm race.

"It's made for a pretty hectic morning, trying to get ready for the race itself and do all the official duties, the media and so forth," Haynes said on Thursday.

"It's just nice for the club to see a sailing commodore, have one of their own out there actually competing in this iconic race. It's a big thing."