Start of the 69th Sydney to Hobart – in pictures

Ragamuffin, Beau Geste and Perpetual Loyal, go head to head at the start Photograph: Rob Griffith/AP

Crowds gather on the Sydney Heads to watch the fleet pass Photograph: Joosep Martinson/Getty

Balance leaves Sydney Harbour Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

A crew member on board Beau Geste hangs on as the boat tries to pass Wild Oats XI Photograph: Quentin Jones/AP

Wild Oats XI leads the fleet out to sea Photograph: Joosep Martinson/Getty

Invest Africa in choppy waters alongside the Manly Ferry Photograph: Quentin Jones/AAP

Team members of Midnight Ramble ride the rails Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

Perpetual Loyal and Beau Geste leave Sydney Harbour Photograph: Ricky Rycroft/AP

Perpetual Loyal and Beau Geste leave Sydney Harbour Photograph: Ricky Rycroft/AP

Perpetual Loyal, in the thick of the swell, as she exits the Sydney Heads Photograph: Quentin Jones/AAP

Race officials are warning the fleet to expect gale-force winds and waves of up to 12 metres Photograph: Rycroft/Rick

The field of yachts race out of the harbour Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

Wild Oats XI leaves Sydney Harbour with the Hong Kong yacht Beau Geste trailing Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

Race favourite Wild Oats XI maneuvers in Sydney Harbour Photograph: Ricky Rycroft/AP

Yachts move out to open sea Photograph: Rob Griffith/AP