Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag were showing no signs of relinquishing their grip on the Leg 4 lead on Tuesday as they geared up to break the 1,000-miles-to-go barrier.

Hell-bent on arriving in their home port of Hong Kong as heroes, Scallywag have maintained their comfortable lead of 73 miles over closest rivals Vestas 11th Hour Racing as the action reaches fever pitch.

The seven international teams celebrated two weeks at sea since leaving Melbourne with optimal conditions – the north-easterly trade winds continue to fire them towards the finish.
 

Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 15 on board Dongfeng. 16 January, 2018. Martin Keruzore/Volvo Ocean Race

At 1300 UTC Scallywag were rocketing along at more than 20 knots, more than two knots quicker than any other team aside from team AkzoNobel in fourth, some 103 miles back.

In fact the only team not to lose miles to Scallywag in the six hours leading up to the position report was third-placed Dongfeng Race Team, who managed to claw back half a mile.
 

Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 15, Phil Harmer takes a turn at the wheel in a lumpy and bumpy sea state on board Vestas 11th Hour. 16 January, 2018. Amory Ross/Volvo Ocean Race

Charles Caudrelier's men will have to pull something bigger out of the bag if they want to overhaul Scallywag at this stage of the race – however Vestas 11th Hour Racing, at 14 miles ahead, may present a more realistic target.

If Dongfeng can overhaul Vestas and finish second behind Scallywag, the significance of boats from Hong Kong and China atop the table at the first ever stopover in Hong Kong would be massive.
 

Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 15 on board MAPFRE, life on board, when you don't have enough time for yourself, Sophie Ciszek in a busy morning. 15 January, 2018. Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race

“It's a new experience for us but it's a good one,” Scallywag skipper Dave Witt said. “We've only got 1,300 miles to go, so we're looking ok. We're in a pretty strong position, and we're going to get further ahead at the moment. The weather pattern suits us but the others are going to fall out of it. I expect us to extend our lead.”

Witt revealed the main threat to their impending victory was not from the other crews but from the weather. His crew is currently facing head-on seas of up to four metres, with boat speeds of more than 20 knots.
 

Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 14. Onboard AzkoNobel in the South Pacific near Challenger Deep. 15 January, 2018. Sam Greenfield/Volvo Ocean Race

“We've just got try not to break the boat,” he added. “Providing we can keep the boat in one piece we're going to have a nice lead going into Hong Kong. We're really looking forward to it.”

Another 70 miles behind the trio of teams desperately trying to hunt down Scallywag, Leg 2 and 3 winners MAPFRE were having to consolidate their fifth place, conscious of attack from Turn the Tide on Plastic and Team Brunel in sixth and seventh.

While Scallywag make the most of continuing breeze, winds at the back of the fleet are set to drop to around 14 knots, further hampering any hopes of catching up with the group in front.

The latest ETA predicts Scallywag will arrive early afternoon on Friday, UTC.

Leg 4 – Position Report – Tuesday 16 January (Day 15) – 13:00 UTC
 

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Top photo: Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 15 The sea state has changed and the boat is flying off the waves on board Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. 16 January, 2018. Konrad Frost/Volvo Ocean Race