The Tauranga crew on the Team Vodafone boat is having a tense time as light airs allow the competition in the Auckland-Suva race to extend a lead on the 18-metre trimaran.

Team Vodafone is still expected to win the 1140 mile race to Musket Cove Fiji, but the projected margin is being steadily eroded as the trimaran wallows in light winds well east of the rhumb line – the shortest distance.

Follow the action in the Auckland-Suva race here.

Three of the nine crew are former Tauranga sailors: Stuart McKinven, Kevin Peet and Oliver Scott-Mackie.

The race start was delayed 24 hours by bad weather, and left Auckland on Monday in light winds. Team Vodafone was judged over the line at the start and had to go round.

Today Team Vodafone is 52nm behind main rival Volvo Open 70, Camper, with the margin increasing.

The trimaran is currently third, 44nm behind the second placed Bakewell-White designed 52ft yacht Wired.

The wind is expected to strengthen today.

The race record is 120 hours 21 minutes, 45 seconds set in 2008 by Systems Thunder.