premise: Forecasters have tipped rough conditions for this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race, where the "supermaxis" are again expected to dominate the Australian bluewater classic beginning December 26.
  Initial warnings that gale force winds would buffet the 78-strong fleet have eased but crews will still have to contend with gusts of 30 knots as they make their way down Australia's east coast.
  Conditions mean Australian supermaxi Wild Oats' record time of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds set last year is not expected to come under threat in the 62nd running of the 628-nautical mile race.
  The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather was expected to be "uncomfortable" rather than "dangerous", as originally forecast.
  The easing weather will also lessen organisers' fears of a catastrophe like 1998, when six sailors drowned in mountainous seas, although Quantum Racing skipper Ray Roberts said race-goers would still be wary.
   What would happen if initial warnings didn't ease?
hypothesis: gale force winds would buffet the 78-strong fleet