The gap between the top two entries in the 23rd annual Victoria-to-Maui International Yacht Race was just over seven nautical miles at 8 p.m. HST on Friday, with Double Take's more westerly course giving skipper Jim McLauchlan the lead on Terremoto, skippered by Bill Weinstein.
Both boats had moved more than halfway to the finish line located off Honokowai since leaving British Columbia on July 7.
Double Take, which will concede corrected time to all but one boat in the field, was less than 1,004 nautical miles from the finish.
Terremoto, which will receive six hours from Double Take, was more than a degree south and east of the leader.
Terremoto was the first to finish in the last edition of the biennial race, with skipper Scott Burbank.
Radiance, skippered by Mark Ward, led the slower cruising class, with less than 1,176 nautical miles to go.
A nautical mile is slightly more than 6,076 feet, and the race requires sailing at least 2,308 nautical miles. The first finishers are expected on approximately July 20.
