Extasea is on track to claim another Melbourne to Hobart line honours victory around lunchtime on Wednesday.
The Paul Buchholz-skippered DK 46 is a multiple winner of the Eastcoaster event, and leads the way down the west coast this year.
Extasea was passing remote Bathurst Harbour on Monday night and on track to round Maatsuyker Island after nightfall.
While Extasea and One For The Road were neck-and-neck at points down the rugged Tasmanian west coast, at 8pm on Tuesday night a gap of 20 nautical miles had emerged between the two.
The leading boats are expected at Constitution Dock after 10am on Wednesday, dependent on winds.
Ocean Racing Club of Victoria commodore Neville Rose said the fleet had enjoyed good sailing conditions.
"Boy has the West Coast and Bass Strait been kind to our boats this year," he told AAP.
"It's been one of the softest races in living memory."
Late on Tuesday, last year's line honours winner Spirit of Downunder was fourth behind Ocean Skins.
Turbulence brings up the rear of the nine-boat field and had not progressed below Savage River before nightfall on Tuesday.
Despite that, Rose said Turbulence, an Adams 11.9, was his best guess at a handicap winner based on current times.
"When it's light it tend to be a small boat race and skipper Eric Marsh is a seasoned campaigner," he said.
"He's progressing as well as he could," he said.
