Decisions made while scrabbling through light airs up the Northland coast appear to be paying off for the leading boats in the Clipper Round the World Race.

They are to clear Cape Reinga today after sailing in light winds since leaving Tauranga on Sunday.

The Clippers on their departure from Tauranga on Sunday.

This is in contrast to the gale force headwinds that greeted the fleet as it rounded East Cape on its way to Tauranga at the end of November.

Led by Visit Finland, the inshore bunch rounding Cape Reinga into the breeze off the Tasman includes Gold Coast Australia, Welcome to Yorkshire and New York.

Further north and east are the yachts that headed further offshore in search of wind in the fluky conditions of the last 24 hours.

Geraldton WA, De Lage Landen, Qindao and Singapore are about 100-150kms northeast of the capes and may make course changes today.

Edinburgh Inspiring Capital is well behind the field this morning, lying relatively close to the coast and just past the Bay of Islands.

The 10 boat fleet is headed for Southport on the Gold Coast.

Follow progress on the race tracker.