Rob Greenhalgh stepped up his bid for a second straight MS Amlin International Moth Regatta title in the Great Sound yesterday.

The British sailor posted a 2-3-1-2 record to replace overnight leader and compatriot Dylan Fletcher-Scott at the top of the standings after the first discard.

It is the first time that Greenhalgh, the 2013 UK Moth champion and past Volvo Ocean Race winner, has led the 50-boat fleet this week.

Fletcher-Scott dropped to second, three points behind Greenhalgh, while David Hivey, another Briton, sits in third, a further 12 points adrift.

Day one leader Rory Fitzpatrick, of Ireland, dropped from third to 12th. Bermuda’s James Doughty also lost ground, slipping from 25th to 28th, but still leads the local contingent.

Greenhalgh, who came from behind to win last year’s inaugural Moth Regatta, thrived in yesterday’s four races, contested in more favourable 15-18 knot breezes and flat seas.

He trailed Fletcher-Scott by two points heading in the day’s final race but managed to erase the deficit and take over the top spot after his compatriot was forced to retire when a line in his boom vang system broke.

Little separated the British duo during the penultimate day of the regatta and today’s finale promises to be just as tight with bragging rights and the $5,000 winner’s purse on the line.

“It’s all subtle differences,” Greenhalgh said. “Generally, when it’s windier, I’m not quite right upwind. But we had some good ding-dongs out there. It’ll be all on tomorrow.”

Fletcher-Scott was in control before his fortunes faded.

“I’m pretty annoyed because I saw it was chafing [on Tuesday],” he said. “I changed the line out before today and saw it was wearing again between the third and fourth race and thought I’ll have to change that again tonight. Then, sailing upwind in the fourth race, I came out of a tack and ‘Bang!’ It broke again.”