Small boats in line for big day in Sydney-Hobart race

One of the smallest yachts in the Sydney to Hobart race emerged Wednesday as a favourite to win overall honours in the rugged blue ocean classic.

Local 33-footer Quikpoint Azzurro would have to meet a pre-dawn arrival deadline on Thursday to lift the treasured Tattersall's Cup as handicap winner for the vessel that performs best according to size.

Owner Shane Kearns appeared set to make it to Hobart's Constitution Dock in time, if he can avoid the worst of the light winds that have plagued the final stages.

Teasing Machine from France was one of numerous boats to hold the handicap lead over the past 36 hours only to suffer on the pond-like Derwent River.

Skipper Eric de Turckheim needed to bring Teasing home by 5:30 am (1830 GMT) on Wednesday to top the handicap standings.

"From the entrance (of the river) we stayed maybe about three hours idle, nothing at all," de Turckheim told Australian Associated Press after finishing 11th.

"Obviously frustrating, but that's sailing, it's not the first time you are leading overall and in the last few miles the wind goes."

French 35-footer Courrier Leon also enjoyed time in the overall lead group but the JPK 1080 looked to be losing hope of making it two majors in a row after victory in the Fastnet Race.

Australian 52-footer Balance finished seventh in line honours on Tuesday and could take the overall title if the smaller vessels miss their deadlines.

Owner-skipper Paul Clitheroe took the clubhouse lead after a fearsome battering down the east coast of Australia.

"The bottom of my mainsail is torn to pieces," the financial guru said.

"It was a terrible, terrible seaway, lumps and bumps. Most of the crew have got the usual bruises and bashes... it was really awful conditions.

"Then we got into Bass Strait and we stopped dead."

After some of the roughest conditions forced 32 yachts out of the race, American supermaxi Comanche was first across the finish line Monday night.

She took line honours in the 71st edition of the 628-nautical-mile event in a time of two days, eight hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds.

Local boat Ragamuffin 100 arrived second in the Tasmanian capital on Tuesday morning, just seconds ahead of another US contender Rambler.

Italian challenger Maserati, skippered by Giovanni Soldini, was fourth, followed by Australian entries Chinese Whisper and Ichi Ban.