Peccadillo has stormed back into the lead of the Melbourne to Hobart yacht race, with skipper Charles Meredith eyeing his first title.
The early leader as the fleet left Port Philip Bay Heads on the opening day, Peccadillo lost the front-running to Ryujin on the first night.
However, despite softening breezes, the only multihull in the field made a run for it down the west coast of Tasmania to position itself as the favourite for line honours.
As well as Ryujin, Peccadillo is being chased by other monohulls Lord Jiminy and Ginan, with winds expected to intensify.
Lord Jiminy, the Class 40 design monohull under skipper Jimmy Oosterweghel, took line honours in 2020 and 2021 under its former owner and is likely to relish the stronger conditions that have been forecast.
While it is his first Westcoaster, Meredith is a seasoned multihull campaigner.
"Peccadillo is a well-made and manufactured multihull with a very competent crew," he said.
"We have modified the rig twice and have recently upgraded to a carbon fibre rig and square top mainsail, which has improved her stability and performance and has given us 20 per cent more sail area."
The leaders are not only battling for a line-honours win, but are also chasing the prestigious Heemskirk Perpetual Trophy awarded to the best-performing boat on AMS handicap.
Vertigo, skippered by Tim Olding and his 23-year-old daughter Clare, was leading that division until being forced to retire early on Friday morning following an equipment issue.
Race director David Schuller expects the leaders into Hobart by the early hours of Saturday.
