A new Sydney to Hobart yacht race record will depend on stronger northerly winds forecast for Bass Strait on Tuesday.

Super maxi Alfa Romeo led Wild Oats Eleven from Sydney to around Eden on the NSW far south coast but Wild Oats now leads by just over one nautical mile and is also handicap leader.

Skandia remains third.

A softening of wind on Monday night has put the leaders about 30 miles behind the position needed to better Nokia's race record of just under one day and 20 hours set in 1999.

To beat that a yacht needs to arrive in Hobart late Wednesday morning (AEDT)

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