A lack of wind or bad luck look like the only possible sticking points for Wild Oats XI as she leads the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, closing in on a record eighth line honours win.
Nearing the end of day two, the veteran 100-footer opened a 38-nautical mile gap on closest challenger Comanche.
While the new American supermaxi has been the talk of the race with an inspiring start sweeping her into an early lead, the standings shifted on Saturday following a rough Friday night along the NSW south coast.
"Within reach ... but a lot of work to do before then. All about conditions at this stage," tweeted @WildOatsXI.
Maintaining a speed of 12 to 15 knots throughout Saturday, Wild Oats XI was able to sail through a ridge in Bass Strait which stalled Comanche.
At one point, the American supermaxi was travelling at just 6.6 knots, the second slowest speed among the remaining field of 109 yachts.
"We are looking for a bit more breeze!" @TeamComanche tweeted mid-afternoon.
From the air, photographer Daniel Forster described Comanche as being "stuck to the water".
What had looked set to be a heated duel between the pair dissolved as Wild Oats XI gradually widened her lead.
From on board, navigator Juan Vila said the boat would be assisted by northwest or northerly winds of up to 25 knots.
Meteorologist Roger Badham said those winds should peak about 3am (AEDT) on Sunday.
"That will make for a fast downwind run," he said.
"After that, it will ease as the leaders close on Tasman Island."
Third-placed Ragamuffin 100 tracked along the Victorian coastline hoping to ride a different weather pattern that would bring her level with the race leader as they turned into Hobart's Derwent River.
Late on Saturday, Ragamuffin 100 remained 59 nautical miles off the pace.
Veteran skipper Roger Hickman's 43-foot Wild Rose is among the early frontrunners for handicap honours, along with fellow NSW boat Ariel.
Saturday's sole withdrawal, Perpetual LOYAL, was the eighth retirement out of the original 117 entries after suffering damage to the front of her hull.
The Anthony Bell-skippered supermaxi is due to arrive back at its Sydney base on Sunday.
A determined Bell, whose former boat Investec Loyal took line honours in 2011, told Fairfax Media before Friday's race start that he would push Perpetual LOYAL to its limits on the first night.
"We have had the boat tested and knocked around," he said.
"We won't be doing anything stupid, but we will probably be more courageous than what some of the newer boats might be."
Crew member and Olympian Tom Slingsby could not pinpoint how the damage happened, adding the supermaxi might have hit something in rough seas.
This year's winner is not expected to reach Hobart's Constitution Dock until Sunday afternoon.
