The Mark Richards skippered super maxi Wild Oats XI is poised to clinch her sixth line honours win in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Friday morning.
A race record winning time has may have eluded her, with Wild Oats XI now expected to cross the finish line between 8.15am and 8.30am on Friday.
To have beaten her 2005 race record of one day 18 hours 40 minutes and 10 seconds she would need to finish before 7.40.10 am (AEDT) on Friday.
At 5.30am (AEDT) on Friday that appeared a nail-biting challenge.
Wild Oats XI looked set to finish in record time late on Thursday, although Richards and her crew knew those chances hinged on the conditions overnight.
However, the crew - and in particular Richards and Wild Oats XI owner Bob Oatley - should be in jubilant spirits with a sixth line honours win after being pipped for the victory by Investec Loyal (now Ragamuffin Loyal) last year when the winning margin between the two boats was three minutes eight seconds.
Twitter - @rupertguinness
