American yacht Comanche will not defend the Sydney to Hobart title as its owners focus on their other race boat, the team has confirmed.

The supermaxi, which is co-owned by Netscape founder Jim Clark and his model wife Kristy, was second fastest to finish the 628-nautical-mile race down Australia's east coast in her 2014 debut.

Comanche came back in 2015 to win line honours, taking two days, eight hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds to complete the gruelling course.

"Comanche will not be coming to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race this year," skipper Ken Read told AFP in an emailed statement late Tuesday.

"The Clarks have decided to have our team solely focus on their other race boat Hanuman...  which is being revamped to compete in J Class events this winter and then at the America's Cup in Bermuda and for the World Championship in Newport next summer. So there is plenty on with that."

But Read did not rule out returning to Australia's famous blue water classic, saying, "Maybe 2017".

The race kicks off every year on December 26 during Australia's summer and runs down the east coast of New South Wales and Victoria and across the Bass Strait into Hobart, the capital of the southern island state of Tasmania.

Source: AFP