The hope of reaching Hobart’s Constitution Dock has been dashed for seven crews in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, after the fleet was battered by stiff southerly winds and rough seas until late last night.

Former line honours winner Brindabella was among the casualties.

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Race organisers say 110 yachts remain in the 628-nautical-mile journey that will end on the River Derwent.

The conditions eased overnight, with the leading boats sailing in around 13 knots of breeze.

Super maxis Comanche and Wild Oats XI are still in a tight battle for the lead of the race.

American yacht Comanche held off seven-time line honours winner Wild Oats XI since starting in Sydney yesterday, but a race spokeswoman said the pair are separated by less than one nautical mile.

Fellow super maxis Perpetual Loyal and Ragamuffin 100 were also locked in their own duel, about five nautical miles behind the leaders.

Just before 4:00am (AEDT) Comanche was about 22nm south of Montague Island.

Scintillating start

The Mark Richards-skippered Wild Oats XI is attempting to make history, with a record eighth line honours success in the blue water classic.

Comanche got off the line quickest after the gun went off at 1:00pm yesterday, followed by last year’s line honours winner Wild Oats XI and Ragamuffin 100.

Jim Clark’s Comanche streeted ahead of its rivals in the run to the first mark, and was easily the first out of the harbour in four minutes 35 seconds.

On Wild Oats XI, Richards was heard on the onboard microphone saying there was something wrong, as he watched the rival supermaxi clear away.

However his boat was still second fastest around the mark 38 seconds behind, with Ragamuffin 100 in third.

Just over 10 minutes into the race, Comanche reached the final turning mark to head down the coast, followed by Wild Oats XI.

Things changed as the leaders began to sail south, however, with Perpetual LOYAL overtaking Ragamuffin 100 to go third.

Up ahead, the lead narrowed substantially as Wild Oats XI began to gain ground on Comanche.

Back in the fleet, Maluka of Kermandie was the last boat out of the harbour, just under 29 minutes after the race start.

At the 45-minute mark, the leaders were sailing away from the shore in preparation for stronger winds, and Comanche extended its lead again.

The early signs were that Comanche had better speed in strong winds, with 25-30 knot southerlies later on Friday afternoon.

However Wild Oats XI is expected to do better in lighter winds that are due in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Away from the battle for line honours, Victoire is hoping to win back-to-back handicap honours after taking out the overall victory last year.