There was plenty of cause for celebration for the crew of Spirit of Bermuda yesterday.

The triple masted sloop, chartered by businessman and former Olympic rower Jim Butterfield, took third in line honours in this year’s Marion to Bermuda Race - her best showing to date in a Bermuda race.

Spirit’s 645 mile journey that began last Friday in Marion, Massachusetts ended at 9am yesterday after crossing the finish line off St David’s Lighthouse.

En route to her home port the sail training vessel encountered challenging conditions sailing through the Gulf Stream at around 11 knots, forcing the boat’s crew to reef their mainsail and jib.

“It is unusual for us to sail with such reduced sail area so this helps to explain how rough it has been,” Butterfield said.

Butterfield chartered Spirit as a team building exercise for some of his staff at Butterfield & Vallis who were divided into three watches.

Also among Spirit’s crew was Governor George Fergusson who had the pleasure of being on the 4am to 8am watch.

Spirit of Bermuda was the sole entry in the Classic Yacht Division and has now appeared in the last two Marion to Bermuda Races.

The 118ft sloop finished behind Peter Noonan’s Swan 56, Defiance, that was second in line honours after crossing the line at 3:55am yesterday.

Taking line honours was Charles Cahill’s Meriton 65, Mischievous, that finished the biennial race at 7:35pm on Monday.

“It was a really fun ride across and the crew did a fantastic job,” Cahill said.

Of the forty-five entries that started the race four were forced to retire, including the 54ft Ketch Legacy V, due to the death of a crewman.

Paul Hubbard’s 43ft sloop, Bermuda Oyster, was forced to withdraw after encountering engine and sail problems on her delivery from Bermuda to Marion while Robert Purcell’s 40ft sloop, Swell, pulled at the eleventh hour due to safety concerns.