Andrew Miller has sailed the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 15 times, but his 2017 attempt at the iconic race looks set to be his slowest.

Not because of bad weather or unexpected complications, but simply because he will be skippering one of the oldest vessels in the fleet — the graceful 1945 timber ketch Freyja.

While the super-maxis are likely to scoot quickly down the Australian coast, Freyja will be persevering at the back of the fleet.

"[I approach the race] with patience," Mr Miller said.

"It's not going to be the fastest trip in the world, that's for sure; in fact, it'll probably be the slowest boat I've ever been to Hobart on."

Dick Lees is a part-owner of Freyja and will sail aboard her to Hobart this year. ( ABC Newcastle: Robert Virtue )

More than 70 years on the water

Freyja is part-owned by 72-year-old Newcastle man Dick Lees, who will be part of the crew for the voyage to Hobart on Boxing Day.

The yacht measures eight metres in length, has a draft of 1.7 metres, and is usually docked in the New South Wales city of Newcastle for most of the year.

Mr Lees' daughter bought the yacht in 2003.

"For her Christmas present, I said I'd do some work on it," he said.

"We found the boat had been dressed up to sell, with paint over rotten planks and things like that.

"I sold my boat, which I hated, and put the money into Freyja, so we became joint-owners."

Andrew Miller will skipper Freyja in what will be his 16th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. ( ABC Newcastle: Robert Virtue )

Freyja's history dates back more than 70 years to the United States and after researching her history, Mr Lees said she was launched in Alameda, in California in 1945.

Freyja arrived in Australia in 1979 — the same year her 2017 skipper Andrew Miller competed in his first Sydney to Hobart race.

Mr Lees said the yacht had to be taken apart plank-by-plank in a restoration job that took about six months.

Thrill of ocean racing beckons

Freyja was forced to retire with broken rigging at the start of the 2016 Sydney Hobart. ( Supplied: Rolex )

Over Mr Miller's yachting career, he has often faced the joys and perils of ocean sailing.

"I've been doing it since I was a teenager; it's just the thrill of it I guess. You never know what's going to happen," he said.

"I did the 1998 [Sydney to Hobart] race, which was a very treacherous one, and the '93 race as well.

"[I approach it] with a lot of trepidation, I suppose. I know how nasty it can get; then again, it can be really good.

"It's really exciting, the start, and the finish, and what's in the middle is what it is."

Freyja and her crew attempted the 2016 race but not long out of Sydney Heads, a rigging issue forced the yacht out of the event.

'Sail, eat, sleep, repeat'

In 2017, Freyja will be guided by a crew of eight people and Mr Miller said having a crew that worked in a rhythm was crucial.

"[It is important we use] the safety equipment on the boat — the lifejackets and the harnesses — and make sure we're clipped-on at night time [and when] the weather's bad," he said.

"Try and stick to a watch system that creates a rhythm on the boat.

"It's basically sail, eat, sleep, repeat. It's pretty important that happens so the boat keeps chugging along.

"It can be very tiring [and] if the conditions are bad, it can be difficult to prepare food, and sleep.

"The motion is not too violent — nothing like the guys get in the modern boats, which slam and bang around everywhere."

Freyja is 8m long. ( Supplied: Simon Macks )

Freyja's crew is hopeful she will be competitive in the cruising division of the race.

Mr Miller estimates that in good conditions, travelling at five knots, Freyja should arrive in Hobart on the afternoon of December 31, five days after leaving Sydney.

"It's a relief, and it's a thrill [arriving in Hobart]," Mr Miller said.

"Going to Constitution Dock is a good feeling."