George's Dinghy and Sports Club yesterday as calm at the club was replaced by a hive of activity.

By early evening 13 boats from three of the four classes had completed the trip down from Newport, Rhode Island.

Alan Brutger's Mountain Sky Magic , a Nelson Marek 43 which is competing in Class I, was first across the line, followed by another Class I entry, Bjorn Johnson's Shere Khan , an Express 37.

In fact all of the Class I boats were in by last night, with Desmond Hampton's ROC third overall. Also in Class I are David Sharpe's Antares and Buz Barclay's Dawn Treader .

Rudder problems forced California Challenge , skippered by Bradford Van Liew, to pull out. Already finished from Class II are Appreciation , skippered by Jeffrey Siegal, Flying Turtle (Murray Danforth), Cabot Lyman's Chewink , Bob Dresser's Akasia and Joseph Harris' Shiva . Bradford Tripp in Mala withdrew but will be arriving for the second leg of the race.

The three boats in Class III to have finished are Ariana (John Dresdai), Starkeeper (Ted Singsen) and Frog Kiss (Patrick Mouligne). An engine fire forced Class IV entrant Tim Donnelly in Lone Eagle to pull out soon after the start.

A total of 33 boats started the race in Newport last Friday, with 22 of the solo skippers having competed before. One, Juan Perez, aboard Andante , has competed in all 11 races.

Still at sea is Bermudian Martin Dixon who is competing with Seeker in the smallest class, Class IV. Seeker is a Venus 34 and Dixon will have Sean Dill as his crew when they return for the double-handed leg of the trip back to Newport on June 19 when all the skippers will be allowed one crew member.