Tauranga yacht Squealer is in the main bunch of the Auckland Suva fleet, closing on the finish line.

Squealer in Tauranga before departure.

A post on the race website today here says Squealer - an Elliot 10.5 - is locked in a duel to the finish with Django - a J/111.

The boats are about 200 metres apart, 200 miles from the finish.

Squealer skipper Bruce Goodchap's birthday was noted today by the Django crew singing happy birthday over the VHF.

The two yachts are battling over fourth and fifth places.

The Botin 80Beau Jeste took line honours in three days 20:49.36. Gicomo was second in four days 03:02.55.

The main fleet should reach Suva over the weekend.