Ragamuffin owner and skipper Syd Fischer isn't fazed by the weather forecast, the 84-year-old says his crew has will "go with the flow."
Trust wise old salt Syd Fischer to put all the weather related kerfuffle about the Sydney to Hobart yacht race into perspective.
While so many people connected with the race pore over each detail of every forecast, 84-year-old sailing legend Fischer doesn't get bogged down in the details.
"I'm not worried about the forecast too much, because we're going anyhow," Ragamuffin owner and skipper Fischer told AAP.
"We've got the gear on board to handle anything, so we'll go with the flow."
Asked about this year's forecast which includes northerlies at the start, a switch to southerlies after six to 12 hours, followed by light breezes, Fischer said "I believe it when I see it."
"I never trust them, you never know what you are going to get."
Meteorologists can take some solace from the fact Fischer has a little more faith in their craft than in the past.
"They are getting better now, they used to be bloody awful," said Fischer who has contested the Sydney to Hobart on 42 occasions, taking line honours once and handicap honours twice.
"If they said we could get a south-wester you'd get a south-easter, so you'd almost do the opposite."
Light and heavy conditions are both challenging according to Fischer.
"You've got tension in both areas, because in one case you are trying to second guess the wind and the other one you are trying to hang on and survive," Fischer said.
Plenty of prominent sailors believe mid-sized boats of the ilk of Fischer's TP52 will prosper if the forecast is accurate.
While he isn't as physically active on the boat as in the past, Fischer makes sure his crew is very much aware of his presence.
"I ask questions, just try to keep people awake at night, because that's when races are won and lost," Fischer said.
