Ty Oxley knows the systems on board are working.
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But it will only be next week when he finally has the opportunity to launch into open-water yachting again, for the first time all year.
As the COVID-19 pandemic shattered the normal outlook of sport across the globe, it has also had a major impact on Sydney to Hobart's leading contenders.
Runner-up last year, Oxley will be aboard InfoTrack for his 18th trip down the NSW coastline, bound for the Derwent River. His chances of winning another line honours crown - his last came in 2016 with Anthony Bell's Perpetual Loyal - have been significantly boosted by the withdrawal of Comanche, Wild Oats XI and Scallywag.
From the top five from last year only Black Jack remains, which was an hour and 14 minutes behind them. Everyone else took two days or more to finish.
"This year has certainly been a little different," the Wollongong real estate agent said. "We put the boat to bed and it has only been in the last month we've pulled it out and made sure everything is in good shape.
"So it will be good just to take it out for some training exercises again, I haven't had the chance to be out on the water at all."
Wild Oats' owners - the Oatley family - cited COVID-19 related setbacks, while Comanche was sold off after last year's race and Scallywag was unable to make it out from Hong Kong.
Oxley has seen it all with ocean racing, from 38-footers to the big super-maxis which dominate the race.
Last year's event was hampered by the raging South Coast bushfires, which caused major breathing and visibility difficulties in the lead up.
InfoTrack was first out of the Sydney Heads, before Comanche took over to win by 44 minutes.
Now InfoTrack has been forced into a crew reshuffle, pulling in extra experience from Australia and New Zealand, given the international travel restrictions.
Launching on Wednesday, owner Christian Beck, Oxley and the team's first goal is the annual Big Boat challenge on Sydney Harbour, where they will be able to eyeball Black Jack.
Black Jack (second) beat InfoTrack (fourth) to Hobart by 14 minutes in 2018, following an exciting battle down the coast with Wild Oats XI and Comanche.
"They're a much lighter boat than us, so it will again depend on the conditions," he said.
"Lighter conditions could help them, but there are all sorts of weather windows along the way which you have to be prepared for.
"It's been an interesting year in that there have been a lot of southerly fronts coming through every few days, but we're still a month away, so we'll see what happens.
"We'll just need to make the most of our chances."
