Hong Kong's super-maxi yacht Sun Hung Kai Scallywag made an early exit from the famous Sydney-Hobart race on Tuesday with a broken bow sprit.

Writing on the social media platform X, the team wrote: "SHK Scallywag 100 has retired from the 2023 Sydney Hobart with a broken bow sprit.

"The team are obviously disappointed given the great progress we were making but thankful no one was injured and that we could safely recover. The team are making their way back to Sydney."

SHK Scallywag had reached third place after taking an early penalty turn. Organisers said it had tacked close to race favourite Andoo Comanche as the yachts left Sydney harbour, prompting a protest by Comanche.

More than 100 yachts set off for the Boxing Day race with storms and hail threatening to lash sailors in one of the world's most gruelling ocean events.

Thunder and rain lifted just minutes before the start at a slightly misty Sydney Harbour as spectators lined the waterfront or crowded onto boats to get a better view of the dramatic opening moments.

At the sound of the starting gun, 103 yachts tacked in light winds in search of the best line out of the harbour and an early lead in the punishing, 628-nautical-mile (1,200-kilometre) crossing to the Tasmanian state capital.

Four hours into the race, the 100-foot supermaxi Andoo Comanche, had taken a lead of less than one nautical mile.

Andoo Comanche, which was first across the line last year, holds the 2017 race record of one day, 9 hours, 15min and 24sec.

In second place was rival supermaxi LawConnect, runner-up in the three previous editions of the race. (Additional reporting by AFP)