Finally reached 2 off. Wonder how long I will need to cut the last 2...
** 11 months later **
I can't believe I solved this! I used same trick as always when I'm stuck for ages on a level: I reset of my mind and by forcing myself to do routes I don't believe in and know wrong, but just to create new perspectives. Out of those crazy routes, one brought me very close and I won on next try. It was for me really a case of "seems longer, is shorter".